General: Nevada Goldenrod (Solidago spectabilis var spectabilis) is a perennial forb that starts as a basal rosette, but then grows a sprawling flowering stalk to about 5-ft tall covered in yellow. Basal leaves elongate, to about 10-inches long and 1-inch wide, much longer than leaves elsewhere on the plant. Leaves essentially hairless. The flowers are individually small, but they occur in great unkempt clusters (not rounded or flat toped clusters), and they bloom during summer and early fall. Leaves fall early, leaving stems with flowers, and the stems can persist all winter. Phyllaries unequal and narrow.

Nevada Goldenrod is a locally common component of vegetation communities in damp areas and  alkaline meadows from desert the flats into the lower mountains from the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) life zone to the lower edge of the Upper Sonoran (Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone.

Around Las Vegas, look for Nevada Goldenrod at Red Spring in Red Rock Canyon NCA.

Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae). Other Names: Spectacular Goldenrod