Basal leaves entire. Arrays narrow, without elongate proximal branches. 2n = 18, 36, 54.

Flowering Sep-Nov (year-round s). Sandy, usually moist soils, bogs, marshy ground, open pine flat-woods, sometimes in coastal brackish marshes, outer coastal plain; 0-100 m; Ala., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Md., Miss., N.J., N.C., S.C., Tex., Va.; Mexico; Central America (Belize, Guatemala).

Subspecies stricta occurs near the coast and never has elongate branches in the arrays unless the leader is damaged. It is found on the outer coastal plain from Delaware to Texas. A. Cronquist (1980) thought that Solidago flavovirens might be S. gracillima (S. stricta subsp. gracillima) or perhaps a hybrid with S. sempervirens.