It is native to Oregon and northern and central California, where it can be found in the woodlands and forests of mountains and foothills, often in relatively dry habitat.

It is a biennial or perennial herb growing up to about 90 centimeters tall from a fleshy root attached to a buttonlike caudex.

The leaves have lance-shaped to oval blades measuring up to 20 centimeters long, the largest ones lower on the stem.

The flower heads are cups lined with black- or green-tipped phyllaries and filled with many gold disc florets.

The fruit is a hairless achene tipped with a pappus of long, white bristles.