It is found in northern California, Idaho, Utah and eastern Oregon.

Heads are slightly curved downward and resemble diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lam.)

The bent bract often allows the head to catch a ride on passing animals and is considered the mechanism for long distant dispersal.

Older plants may have multiple rosettes on top of the long taproot.

The taproot allows this weed to thrive in dry sites so it maybe more invasive than diffuse knapweed in ultra-dry rangeland.