Shrubs, 50-150 cm. Stems branched to near apices, glabrescent (younger stems and branches stipitate-glandular). Leaf blades spatulate to ovate, 3-20 mm wide, bases attenuate, subclasping, margins flat, coarsely spinulose-toothed, faces glabrous, sparsely stipitate-glandular. Peduncles 5-11(-20) cm. Involucres 15-20 × 20-40 mm. Phyllaries loosely appressed, outermost (at least margins) stipitate-glandular, innermost shorter than mid. Ray florets (12-)20-29(-32); corollas light blue to violet. Style-branch appendages shorter than stigmatic lines. 2n = 12.

Flowering Jan-Apr(-Jun). Slopes and bottoms of deep ravines in clay, rocky sand, and gravel; of conservation concern; 20-300 m; Calif.

Xylorhiza cognata is known only from Riverside County.