Smell its root and it smells like a carrot. The white doily is made up of many tiny flowers. Queen Anne's Lace is related to parsley and celery. Goldenrod Early Goldenrod is the first of many goldenrods to flower in late summer and fall. It is related to Chicory and Black-eyed Susan.
Goldenrod has heavy pollen carried from one plant to another by insects.
Goldenrod gets the blame for causing hay fever because it starts to flower about the same time as ragweed. Ragweed has light wind carried pollen which gives many people hay fever. In Europe, many goldenrods are grown in perenial gardens for their beautiful flowers. Brightly colored flowers act like billboards to attract insects which move pollen from one plant to another. Once a flower receives pollen it can ripen seeds to grow new plants.