It is distributed in the southwestern and south-central United States (CA NV AZ UT NM TX OK LA),[2] most of Mexico, and much of Central America.

[5] This species is a perennial herb or subshrub; its green stems look more herbaceous than woody, "but it behaves more like a subshrub",[6] with its tough stems living for several years and rapidly developing vascular cambia.

The stems are hairless and sometimes waxy in texture, and some of the lateral branches may be sharply angled and reduced in size, becoming thorns.

They bear loose arrays of many flower heads each roughly half a centimeter long and wide.

[6] This plant is known from dry habitat and moist spots, such as streambanks and seeps.