Shrubs, 3-8 × (4-)5-10(-12) dm, floccose. Stems: caudex absent; aerial flowering stems 0.5-1.5 dm, floccose. Leaves: blade 1.5-3.5 × 0.5-1.2 cm, densely reddish-brown-tomentose abaxially, floccose adaxially, margins not revolute. Inflorescences 1-8 cm; branches floccose. Involucres 2.5-4 mm, floccose. Flowers 2.5-3 mm; perianth yellow. Achenes 2.5-3 mm.

Flowering Jul-Sep. Sandy to rocky soil, sagebrush communities, pinyon-juniper woodlands; 1400-2200 m; Calif., Nev.

Variety schoolcraftii is known only from low desert hills west of Doyle, Lassen County, California, and on Seven Lake Mountain, Washoe County, Nevada. It has the potential of being an attractive garden shrub.