Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
showy goldenrod

showy goldenrod

7.4
A tall plant from North America with bright yellow flower clusters and smooth stems
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : solidago vistosa
  • The garden was filled with showy goldenrod, which attracted many butterflies.

Examples

  • We identified the showy goldenrod by its dense, upright flower spikes and smooth stems.

  • The showy goldenrod blooms in late summer.

  • Gardeners often plant showy goldenrod to attract butterflies and bees.

  • The showy goldenrod blooms in late summer, brightening meadows with its yellow blossoms.

  • Many gardeners love the showy goldenrod for its vibrant color.

  • In late summer, the vibrant yellow clusters of showy goldenrod brighten up the meadows.

  • You can easily identify showy goldenrod by its tall stems and bright yellow flowers.

Synonyms

goldenrod
vsshowy goldenrod
  • US
5 6.1

A tall plant with many small bright yellow flowers often seen in fields in late summer

is a specific North American species with taller stems and larger brighter flower clusters

Surface Forms

showy goldenrod singular
showy goldenrods plural

Morphology

showy + goldenrod

The noun phrase is directly compositional: 'showy' (visually conspicuous) simply modifies 'goldenrod' (a tall plant with yellow flower clusters), so the phrase means a goldenrod that is conspicuous or ornamental. This adjective+noun pattern is a basic, cross-linguistic construction and is immediately predictable to learners who know both constituent words.

Etymology

Showy goldenrod combines showy (meaning very bright or eye-catching) and goldenrod (a plant with long stems of yellow flowers), creating a clear picture of the plant. Because this species has tall, bright yellow flower stems that really stand out, the name tells you it is a goldenrod that is especially 'showy'.