Description: Showy goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora) is a perennial that grows throughout the mountain west from foothill elevations up to the subalpine (3,000-11,800 feet). It inhabits open, dry to moderately moist slopes and is very common along roadsides. It blooms from July through September, often brightening many acres with golden yellow. This herbaceous perennial plant grows in small bushy clumps from a shallow taproot or fibrous rootstock, with several stems standing 1 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are broadly to narrowly lance-shaped, slightly toothed, and 1 to 3 inches long. All but the uppermost leaves are opposite on the stem. The flower heads are borne at the ends of the branches. Both the ray flowers and disk flowers are yellow forming heads 1 to 1.5 inches broad. TheY begin with a green central disk and tiny green rays, gradually changing to golden disks and golden-yellow rays around the outside. This is an attractive plant with a sunflower like appearance, but the flowers are smaller and more numerous than those of the common sunflower (Helianthus annuus).
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