Houghton's goldenrod is primarily found on calcareous beach sands, rocky and cobble shores, beach flats, edges of marl ponds, and most commonly, the shallow, trough-like interdunal wetlands that parallel shoreline areas. Houghton’s goldenrod also occurs on seasonably wet limestone pavement, which is the species’ more typical habitat in the eastern portion of its range, primarily in Ontario, and where carbonates precipitate at the surface (in a marl fen) in New York. It usually occurs where there is a relatively low density of competing vegetation.

Grass-leaved goldenrod (Solidago graminifolia) and Ohio goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis) are superficially similar species that commonly occur with, and are sometimes confused for Houghton's goldenrod. Grass-leaved goldenrod can be distinguished by its more leafy stem with withering or absent basal leaves, narrower 3-5 nerved leaves, and an inflorescence composed of distinctly smaller flower heads with short ray florets and with the heads borne in tight clusters on leafy, smooth branches. The hairy achenes of grass-leaved goldenrod also enable it to be readily distinguished from Houghton's goldenrod. Ohio goldenrod is a more robust species, which can be distinguished from Houghton's goldenrod by its relatively broad, flat, ovate-lanceolate leaves, a dense, many-headed inflorescence with smooth, non-hairy branches, flower heads with distinctly smaller ray flowers, and smooth but un-ribbed achenes (Service 1997).

Houghton's goldenrod is characterized by its flat-topped, branched inflorescence comprised of relatively few, showy, large flower heads that may number from 5 to 30 or more. The branches and flower stalks of the inflorescence are finely hairy and the achenes (fruits) are smooth and ribbed (Penskar et al. 1996).  Long, narrow, pointed leaves are well-scattered along the stem and taper to a slightly clasping base (Service 1997). Rhizomes are commonly produced from the caudex, resulting in the production of additional clumps of stem (Service 1997).

• Stem height: up to 29 in (75 cm)
• Leaf length: 7.8 in (20 cm)
• Leaf width: 0.8 in (20 mm)

Houghton's goldenrod flowerheads are made up of 5 to 30 or more flowers that consist of 6 to 9 large, pale to bright yellow ray florets and several yellow disc florets. The stems are often somewhat reddish in color (Service 1997).

Houghton’s goldenrod is an herbaceous perennial, arising from a branching, thickened base with a strongly fibrous root system. Stems are frequently clumped, produced vegetatively by means of relatively short rhizomes (Penskar et al. 1996). Numerous shoots or ramets are commonly produced and indicate that vegetative propagation is an important form of reproduction for this species. Houghton’s goldenrod is insect-pollinated and several insect families, such as Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera are attracted to goldenrod flowers, which provide both nectar and pollen (Jolls 1994). Seeds require light and an obligate overwintering period for germination (Service 1997).

Houghton's goldenrod flower in August and early September, but may flower as early as late-July, and not uncommonly well into October. Fruiting and seed dispersal occurs mostly from August through November, and undoubtedly later in the year (Penskar et al. 1996).