Plants erect, 3-6 dm. Aerial flowering stems fistulose, glabrous or tomentose. Leaf blades elliptic to ovate, 3-4(-6) × 1.5-2(-5) cm. Inflorescences 20-45 cm. Involucres 2-3 mm. Flowers 4-6(-7) mm; perianth bright red.

Flowering Jul-Sep. Loamy to gravelly flats and rim edges, sagebrush communities, juniper, pinyon, and montane conifer woodlands; 1300-2300 m; Ariz.

Variety coccineum is rare and localized, known from scattered populations on the edge of the Grand Canyon (1950-2300 m) in Coconino County, and in the Hack Canyon area (1300-1500 m) of eastern Mohave County.