Plant is an upright, smooth to slightly hairy perennial.  Preferred habitat is savannas, pinelands, roadsides and dry woods.  Distribution is throughout the Escambia region.

The leaves of Sweet Goldenrod are abundant and alternate on the stem (those at mid-
stem are the longest); consisting of one whole part; no leaf stalk, lanceolate to widest at the middle; no teeth and no lobes; tapering to a long or short point with sides less than equal.  Leaf base is wedge-shaped to rounded. Leaves are anise-scented when crushed, thus the common name.

Flowers are in a panicle of heads, usually bent

to one side as pictured above.  The base of the small flower is broader than the tip. Each floret is symmetrical in form. Disc flowers are bisexual and yellow.  Ray flowers are female and yellow.  Flowering occurs in late summer to early autumn.

Fruit is an achene (the outer layer is fused to the seed).

The related S. tortifolia is similar to Sweet Goldenrod but the plant has elongate rhizomes. Its leaves are not scented and some, or most, are finely serrate.  Since both plants inhabit similar places, distinguishing one from the other may be difficult except for the sweet anise-like scent of S. odora.