Solidago juncea

Goldenrod is a late summer flower. This is one of the earliest to bloom in northern Wisconsin. Goldenrod gets a bad name because of the ragweed that often grows alongside and causes “hayfever.” Actually, goldenrod pollen is sticky and thick and doesn’t go airborne easily, so is not the likely cause of breathing problems. The flower creates pollen that is used by many insects as they forage for food, and several moths create a home in the stem, creating a gall, where the larvae develop.