Goatsbeard is a stately member of the daisy family that stands tall and robust. The roots are parsnip like and the plants stands between 40 – 75cm tall. The yellow flower-heads are solitary with eight bracts united at the base and are usually 2-4 cm wide.

One of the folk names of this plant is “John-go-to-bed-at-noon” due to the fact that its stunning flowers are usually open only from four o’clock in the morning, till midday. Goatsbeard flowers in June and July. The seed heads are a large “clock” of white feathery seeds around 12cm across.