Plants 7-24 cm. Stems 1-10, ± hairy. Leaves ± hairy. Heads 5-35+ per plant. Involucres 8-11 × 9-14 mm. Phyllaries: outer 9-13, weakly to moderately keeled, lanceolate, 5-8 mm, apices acuminate to acute; inner 9-18, 4-8 mm. Ray florets 8-14; corollas 11-17 mm. Disc florets 30-75+; corollas 3-5 mm. Cypselae 2-3 mm; pappi of 5-6(-8) usually lanceolate, aristate scales 2-3.5 mm. 2n = 30.

Flowering (May-)Jun-Jul(-Sep). Roadsides, open areas, edges of forests; (1000-)1500-2500(-3400) m; Alta., Sask.; Colo., Mont., N.Dak., Utah, Wyo.