Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California; also in eastern North America.

Habitat: Waste areas, roadsides, and other disturbed areas where often where somewhat moist.

Flowers: July-October

Origin: Introduced from eastern Asia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies

Vigorous, rhizomatous perennial with numerous, erect, reddish-brown, leafy, branching stems 1.5-2 m. tall.

Leaves alternate, the lower petiolate, becoming subsessile upward; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, up to 20 cm. long, the base truncate to cordate; stipules sheathing, not lacerate.

Inflorescence an open, terminal panicle; flowers white, perfect; the 5 perianth segments obovate, 3-4 mm. long, not keeled.

Achene 3-angled, black, smooth and shining, 3 mm. long.