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.