Subshrubs, 15-35 cm. Stems branched mostly in proximal ³ / 4 , puberulent to coarsely stipitate-glandular. Leaves: blades linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, (2-)2.5-5 mm wide, bases truncate or rounded-auriculate, margins flat, usually entire, rarely few-toothed, faces puberulent to coarsely stipitate-glandular. Peduncles 3-11 cm. Involucres 10-17 × 15-30 mm. Ray florets 13-21; corollas light blue to white. Style-branch appendages slightly shorter to ± equaling stigmatic lines. 2n = 12, 24.

Flowering Apr-May(-Jun). Deep canyons, sands, and clays; 1300-2000 m; Utah.

Xylorhiza linearifolia is known from Garfield, Grand, San Juan, and Wayne counties. Plants with few-toothed leaf margins may be indicative of hybridization with X. tortifolia, which is sympatric with X. linearifolia in the southern part of its range.