Perennials, 60-120 cm (bases woody). Stems branched, puberulent, gland-dotted. Leaves alternate; petioles 10-50 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, deltate or rhombic-ovate, 50-100 × 20-50 mm, bases acute to truncate, margins crenate or coarsely dentate, apices long-acuminate, abaxial faces sparsely villous, gland-dotted, adaxial faces glabrous or sparsely pubescent, often gland-dotted. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 4-6 mm, puberulent, sparsely gland-dotted. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 7-10 mm. Phyllaries 22-26 in 4-7 series, 3-5-striate, unequal, margins scarious (apices obtuse to acute); outer ovate to lanceolate (often purple-tinged, glabrous or puberulent), inner linear to oblong (greenish, glabrous). Florets 13-20; corollas yellowish, 5.3-6.5 mm. Cypselae 2-2.5 mm, sericeous; pappi of 26-32 white, barbellate bristles. 2n = 18. Flowering Aug-Oct. Rocky slopes, shaded areas; 1500-2500 m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico. Brickellia rusbyi has been considered ill-smelling.