Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Disturbed dry slopes, meadows, fields, forest openings, and other disturbed, open places from low to middle elevations.

Flowers: June-September

Origin: Introduced from central Asia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, flies, beetles, wasps

Coarse, bushy perennial from deep rhizomes, 4-8 dm. tall, finely loose white-woolly throughout.

Lower cauline leaves up to 15 cm. long by 4 cm. wide, often few lobed; other leaves numerous, smaller, entire or with a few teeth.

Heads numerous, terminating the branches; involucre pale yellow-green, 9-15 mm. high, the middle and outer bracts broad, glabrous, with rounded hyaline tips, the inner bracts narrower and tapering, with hairy tips; flowers purple; pappus bristles 11 mm. long; receptacle densely bristly.

Achene