Early Goldenrod is a perennial herb that reaches heights of up to 2m tall, sometimes spreading by means of underground rhizomes. It often grows in clumps with no leaves at the base but numerous leaves on the stem. At the top, each stem produces a sizable array of many small flower heads, sometimes several hundred. Each head is yellow, containing both disc florets and ray florets.

In late summer it produces small yellow flowers in a flat cluster display at the top of a tall arching, leafy and smooth stem.

Early Goldenrod is highly invasive throughout Europe. In its non-native range, it exerts a negative impact on native communities by decreasing species diversity, due to its intense competitive effects and rapid growth. 

In the non-native European range, several management options are applied, such as periodical flooding, mowing, mulching, grazing, or herbicide to reduce the negative impact of the species on native biodiversity