Perennials, 3-6+ cm; fibrous-rooted and/or rhizomatous (bases coarse, weakly creeping or suberect). Stems usually 1, sometimes 2, densely tomentose (at least proximally), becoming glabrate distally. Basal leaves (relatively leathery) sessile; blades linear, 10-15+ × 1-2 mm, margins entire (revolute). Cauline leaves abruptly reduced (linear, bractlike). Heads 1(-2). Peduncles bracteate, tomentose or glabrate. Calyculi conspicuous. Phyllaries 13, purple to deep reddish purple, 6-9+ mm, hairy or glabrescent. Ray florets 0 or 5-8; corolla laminae 4-7 mm. Disc florets 30-40+; corolla tubes 2.5-3.5 mm, limbs 3.5-4 mm. Cypselae 3-3.5 mm, hirtellous; pappi 5-6 mm.

Flowering mid Apr-mid May. Calcareous soils, sparsely vegetated areas of short-grass prairies; of conservation concern; 1600-2200 m; N.Mex., Utah.

Packera spellenbergii is known only from Harding and Union counties, New Mexico, and Kane County, Utah. The plants are succulent, have deeply cyanic herbage, and conspicuously revolute leaves.