Stems abundantly branched, arching distally. Leaves tapering to weakly defined petioles; blades 3-10(-15) × 0.5-1.5 cm. Heads (3-)8-16 in each array, arrays usually clustered. Phyllaries 4-6(-8) mm, tips green, obtuse. Ray corollas 8-12+ mm. Disc corollas (5-)7-8+ mm. Cypselae (1.5-)2-3 mm; pappi 5-6+ mm. 2n = 60.

Flowering year-round, mostly spring. Open, rocky, disturbed sites; 700-1500 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex.; Mexico; Central America.

Barkleyanthus salicifolius is abundant and semiweedy through much of Mexico and northern Central America; it barely enters the flora area. The flowering heads are attractive and the species is sometimes cultivated.