It often grows in rocky and sandy substrates, clay, and alkaline soils amongst cactus.

[2] It is a shrub with branching, mostly hairless stems that may reach 1.5 meters in length.

The leaves are lance-shaped to oblong with smooth, toothed, or spiny edges.

The inflorescence is a solitary flower head with up to 40 or more lavender or pale blue ray florets, each of which may measure over 3 centimeters in length.

The fruit is an achene which may be over a centimeter long, including its pappus of bristles.