Golden-saxifrage forms patches in damp woods and shady streamsides in spring. It has flat clusters of yellow flowers surrounded by yellow-green bracts.
There are two species of Golden-saxifrage: the one illustrated here is Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage, which is more common. The Alternate-leaved Golden-Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium alternifolium) is very similar except for the arrangement of the leaves.