Canada goldenrods are natives of North America. For a comparison chart of some of the varieties of goldenrods, see
Solidago.
Identification: Plants are 2-6′ (60-182 cm) high. The main stem is smooth near the base, with rows of
soft small hairs nearer the top. Leaves are lance-shaped ("lanceolate") and sharply serrated, gray-green,
mostly hairless above, hairy below. They are up
to 6″ (15 cm) × 1″ (2.5 cm) at the base, and progressively smaller up the stem. Several yellow flowerheads,
each 3-5″ (7.6-12 cm) in length, branch
sideways from the main stem, and have flowers on one side only. Individual flowers are less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) around, usually having
8-14 rays and 3-6 disk florets. Flowers bloom July to
September.
The insect who looks like an escapee from the Emerald City is a cuckoo wasp. Cuckoo wasps are frequently mistaken for sweat bees (also called halictid bees), as both are colorful and about the same size. Here is an excellent comparison.