This European plant is a common roadside and trailside plant, often also found in great numbers in disturbed ground. It grows quite tall, up to 6 feet, with the long spike of yellow flowers topping large pale green hairy leaves. Settlers brought this plant over with them long ago, and one of the names it was known by in the past, was Candlewick Plant, in reference to the fact that this was the poor man's candle. The long dried stalk would be dipped in tallow and lit.