Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to Montana, Idaho, and Utah, also from Great Lakes region to northeastern North America.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, ditches, shores, wastelots, and other disturbed, open areas.

Flowers: May-August

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies, beetles, wasps

Pubescent perennial from creeping rhizomes, the stems 30-60 cm. tall.

Leaves alternate, entire, and lanceolate.

Heads discoid, terminal and solitary on the stem; flowers blue, the long corolla tube deeply five-lobed; involucre bracts imbricate, with bristly margins.

Achene.