Herbaceous forb or subshrub from 1-3 ft. tall with silver-woolly leaves and stems; flowering May to October. Adapted to a wide variety of rocky to silty soil textures; up to 12,000 ft. elevation. Occasionally dominant after wildfire, though generally more abundant on sites with infrequent disturbance. Often found in pure stands connected by underground rhizomes. Tolerant of some periodic flooding. Use for riparian sites in woodland, mountain brush, sagebrush and desert shrub communities, as well as more mesic sites in shortgrass and tallgrass prairies. Important summer forage for pronghorn and winter forage for elk. Used by sage-grouse for summer food and cover. Host plant for the cudweed grasshopper.