[3][4] It is native to the southeastern United States, where it is distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

[3][5] Brintonia discoidea is a perennial herb growing up to 1.5 meters tall from a thick rhizome.

The alternately arranged leaves have rough-haired serrated blades up to 10 centimeters long on winged petioles.

[3] The plant occurs on the Gulf Coastal Plain in sandy, swampy habitat.

[4] It is sometimes still treated as a species of Solidago,[6] but DNA evidence and several aspects of its morphology support its separation from that genus.