[4] It is native to much of the southeastern United States, as well as parts of California and northern Mexico.

[5] It is a large, bushy perennial herb with sprawling stems reaching one to two meters long.

The leaves are heart-shaped, toothed, and pointed, and generally between 6 and 10 centimeters long.

Each flower has a cup of partly fused sepals beneath a layer of slender bracts.

The flower's large petals may be up to 10 centimeters long and are generally bright white with red bases.