Subshrubs (flowering twigs dying back each year), (5-)15-60 cm (aromatic). Stems erect, sericeous-canescent. Leaves mostly cauline; blades (linear or linear-oblanceolate, 10-40 mm) entire or pinnately or subpalmately lobed, faces ± sericeous. Heads usually 3-12 in compact, corymbiform cymes (1-3 cm across), sometimes 1-2. Involucres 2.5-4(-6) mm. Phyllaries 10-12, canescent. ( Disc corollas ochroleucous, lobes villous.) Cypselae 1.8-1.9 mm (apices with irregular, thickened rims, faces glabrous or slightly gland-dotted). 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul-Sep. Crevices in cliffs, dry rocky slopes; 1800-4000 m; Calif., Nev., Oreg.

Sphaeromeria cana grows in western United States, with northern extension in the Steens Mountains of Oregon.