Agoseris aurantiaca is a perennial herb or subshrub[2] growing to 60 centimeters (24 inches) in height.

[3] It produces a basal rosette of leaves, which are 5–35 cm (2–14 in) long and entire or with irregular tooth-like lobes.

Between June and August, each peduncle bears a single flower head 2.5 cm (1 in) in width,[3] surrounded by glabrous to hairy phyllaries.

[3] The species is widespread and common in western North America from Alaska and the Northwest Territories in Canada southward to California, Arizona, and New Mexico, and eastward as far as the Rocky Mountains and the Black Hills.

[6][7][5][8][9][10] It is primarily a species of mountainous regions and may be found in wet to dry habitats.