It is native to Australia (all 6 states) and New Zealand, and also naturalized on the Pacific Coast of the United States (Washington, Oregon, and California).

[14] The name Erechtites glomeratus is considered by APNI to be illegal.

[15] It was first described in 1817 by René Louiche Desfontaines as Senecio glomeratus, from a specimen cultivated in the Jardin des Plantes.

[10][16] Erechtites glomeratus is an annual or perennial herb up to 200 cm (80 inches) tall.

Leaves are lanceolate or linear with many pinnate lobes.