It is an herb that is 0.5–1 m. high, with ovate leaves 2–6 cm long, and flowers are white to mauve.

[3] In Vietnamese, the plant is called cứt lợn (meaning "pig feces") due to its growth in dirty areas.

[4] As a medicinal plant, Ageratum conyzoides is widely used by many traditional cultures, against dysentery and diarrhea.

A. conyzoides is prone to becoming a rampant environmental weed when grown outside of its natural range.

It is an invasive weed in Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, Hawaii, and the USA.