Solidago sparsiflora A. Gray, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 12: 58. 1877; Aster sparsiflorus (A. Gray) Kuntze; S. arizonica (A. Gray) Wooton & Standley; S. californica Nuttall var. nevadensis A. Gray; S. canadensis Linnaeus var. arizonica A. Gray; S. garrettii Rydberg; S. howellii Wooton & Standley; S. mollis Rothrock; S. sparsiflora var. subcinerea A. Gray; S. trinervata Greene; S. velutina var. nevadensis (A. Gray) C. E. S. Taylor & R. J. Taylor

Stems and leaves sparsely strigillose. Outer phyllaries glabrate. 2n = 18, 36, 54.

Flowering Aug–Oct(–Dec, seldom). Dry open slopes, rocky places, sometimes along streams or seeps, in meadows, open pine woods, margins of dry woods, grasslands, disturbed soils; 300–2500+ m; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Nev., N.Mex., Tex., Wyo.; Mexico.