Zigzag goldenrod can be found at Lilydale Regional Park in Saint Paul, MN.

I have seen this plant growing near Crane and Otter lakes in Itasca county and in Crow Wing and Cass Counties

I have in my shade garden. Very prolific at self seeding throughout garden and lawn. Easily pulled out of unwanted areas, but may be a bit aggressive for small manicured shade gardens. Would be great for naturalized areas. Wonderful bit of color in the shade late in the year.

I've got a lot of it growing in an woodsy, overgrown area north of my house right now; I noticed it around the same time the asters began blooming.

I planted this species a few years ago in our shady backyard. It grows well under a Siberian elm, in soil that is usually very dry and full of tree roots. It spreads to form a clump and self-seeds. It looks a little weedy, but it reminds me of the pine woods in William O'Brien State Park, where it grows in the needle-strewn ground. It seems to grow taller here (around 4 feet) than it does there, though I could be misremembering it, since I haven't been to William O'Brien in a few years. I'd add to others' recommendations by saying this is not only a good plant to grow in shade, but even in dry shade or among tree roots.

I found this last fall in Elm Creek Park Reserve. Not many.

Found a few of these scattered throughout my woodland backyard. Now that I've identified it I'm hoping it spreads a bit.

I have this growing in amongst a tangle of wild raspberries-the latter I am trying to eradicate-the zigzag trying to nurture/propigate. It has not been weedy, but I do strip off many of the hard yellow fruits/"berries" to seed elsewhere/use for art. I find it to be beautiful in bloom, rather intriguing "funky"as it fruits. I am an MG, and know it is considered invasive, so do watch it, but have not noticed spreading-certainly not like Shifts-the pollinators love it.

Sue, the term "invasive" is generally reserved for non-native species that can readily escape cultivation and displace natives in the wild, sometimes forming monocultures. In a garden setting, many natives can be rather aggressive since the natural ecosystem that keeps them in check doesn't really exist in cultivation. I have zig-zag goldenrod in my own garden, which is densely covered with many other natives. The goldenrod does spread, but in 10 years has not done so to the detriment of other species.

Grow near the edge of a dirt road. Multiple types of goldenrod in the area, but was able to identify this one.

I've seen quite a number of these plants in my woods and around the yard for 30 years or more. There are also some growing in the shade on the north side of my house by the front steps. I always wondered what they were. Because of the large wide leaves, I never suspected that they were a type of goldenrod. It always bugged me that these usually only have one or two or occasionally three petals on the flowers.

First year growing this. Seems to be infested by 1/2" long yellow insects. Do I need to worry or treat?

Bruce, those are probably soldier beetles. It's pollinators doing their thing so be happy!

I noticed these growing along the edge of the woods on our newly acquired property on Blackwater Lake near Longville in Cass County. So glad to know what they are! They're a charming little plant and I was unfamiliar with it. As noted above, I would not have suspected goldenrod due to the leaves and their short statue. Ours all have 3 petals and that funky "Sputnik" ball of stamens in the center. The underside of the large toothed leaves are very soft and hairy.