Sub-rhizomatous clumped perennial herb; stem 3-7 dm long, ascending to erect; upper stems sparsely to densely hirsute, eglandular; leaves alternate, lanceolate, 3-6 cm long, 4-7 mm wide, narrowly lanceolate to linear-lanceolate on the upper plant; inflorescence subcorymboid 3-6 (-9) cm long and broad; heads 9-12 mm wide; rays about 4 mm long, 2 mm wide, rather large and showy for members of <I>Solidago</I>; phyllaries glabrous to minutely sessile-glandular; achenes mostly glabrous (rarely strigose). Flowering June to August.