Gray Goldenrod, is a herbaceous perennial wildflower in the Asteraceae family.

It tolerates drought and dry rocky or sandy soils but prefers dry to medium, well-drained, slightly acidic soil in full sun. The plants generally grow taller and more vigorously in rich soils. It tolerates light shade, but does not do well in full shade; however, it will often grow where many other plants cannot.

It is a hardy plant sometimes found in old fields, pastures, waste places, and roadsides. The plant displays a mass of yellow flowers from late summer through the fall and individual plants bloom at various times, thus extending the flowering season.

It is probably not the best choice for a managed garden but rather belongs in a meadow or cottage garden where it can naturalize. This is a rhizomatous, spreading, somewhat weedy plant that can colonize an area by creeping rhizomes and self-seeding. It is not considered invasive in the U.S.

Goldenrod species have sometimes been blamed for hay fever, but the irritating symptoms are actually caused by ragweed ( Ambrosia species) pollen, which is airborne when goldenrod is in flower. This plant is deer resistant.

Host plant for numerous moth and butterfly species, along with other insects.