[4] Arnica fulgens is a perennial herb growing from a short, tough rhizome and producing one or more hairy, glandular, mostly naked stems to heights between 10 and 60 centimeters.

The fruit is an achene with a hairy body half a centimeter long and a light-colored pappus.

[4] Arnica fulgens avoid heat and drought by dying back to the rootstalk and re-sprouting the next spring.

[5] Hillside arnica is valued by wildflower gardeners for its large yellow flowers on tall stalks.

The plant author Claude Barr described the flowers as, "Elegantly finished..." They prefer to grow in rich loam soils.