Perennial, stem 2-5 dm tall, tomentose; basal leaves narrowly oblanceolate, to 12 cm long and 10 mm wide, margins entire to sparingly dentate or wavy, green and glabrate on upper surface, tomentose on lower surface; stem leaves on lower third of stem nearly equal to basal leaves in size; heads radiate, erect, several to many in a corymbose cyme; phyllaries narrow, in a single series; ray and disk flowers yellow; pappus of numerous white capillary bristles; achenes usually hairless. Flowers late July to September.