This member of the Sunflower family sports yellow, 1 to 2 inch (2.5 to 5 cm) wide, Daisy-like flower heads with fan-shaped, three lobed  ray flowers that droop downward. The disk flowers form a purplish-brown ball in the center of the flower head. The leaves are grasslike or stringlike. Plants reach a height of 1 to 2 feet (31 to 62 cm) and grow along roadsides, in fields, and sandy soil. Flowers bloom from July to October.

This species is very similar to Purple-Headed Sneezeweed (Helenium nudiflorum). The only difference is that H. Nudiflorum has larger leaves that are 6 inches (15 cm) long , lanceolate and toothed.