This perennial native member of the aster family  has a yellow flower similar to the king-devil, but seldom has any basal leaves. Instead it has hairy elliptical leaves that become smaller as they ascend the stem. The stem is also quite hairy. It grows 1-5 feet high in clearings and fields. It is found throughout north central and northeastern United States and further south to Georgia in the mountains.

The flowers, like that of the dandelion, are composite in nature, but consisting of 30-60 ray flowers but no central disk flowers. The individual flower heads may be ½ to ¾ inch wide, but the entire terminal cluster can be up to 6 inches across. It blooms from June to September, starting about a month later than the king-devil.

If not cross-pollinated the flowers can be self-fertile. The seeds have tufts of hair and are wind distributed. Some native birds and animals feed on the seeds or foliage, though the bitter latex sap reduces consumption of the leaves by deer and rabbits.