Soldiago ulmifolia is roughly similar to the very common Solidago canadensis in size and general shape and in the inflorescence with flowers "secund" (all appearing to arise from the same side of the branch). However, it may be readily distinguished in several ways. The leaves of S. ulmifolia are pinnately veined, therefore not "triple-nerved" and the lower leaves are clearly stalked and quite different in shape from the upper leaves. S. canadensis leaves are triple-nerved, the leaves are basically the same shape throughout and none are stalked. While the inflorescence of S. ulmifolia may be described as somewhat pyrimidal in general shape, there tend to be fewer, more widely spread branches than in the more dense and regularly pyrimidal inflorescences of S. canadensis. Also S. canadensis tends to be strongly clonal and to occur mostly in sunny sites and S. ulmifolia does not appear to form dense clones and it is most often found in forests, or at least somewhat shaded sites.

Most reported sites for Solidago ulmifolia in Wisconsin are in the southern three or four tiers of counties. In Brown County it appears to be strongly associated with areas where the soil is relatively shallow over limestone. It does very well on such sites, but is essentially absent elsewhere in the county.