Plants 20–40(–60) cm. Basal leaves: blades narrowly oblong-lanceolate to lance-linear, 15–25(–40) cm, margins entire or denticulate, faces glabrous (usually gland-dotted and ± vernicose, the varnish, in age, becoming whitish and opaque); cauline leaves similar, smaller distally. Heads 2–4+ in racemiform to corymbiform arrays or borne singly. Involucres broadly hemispheric or campanulate, 10–20(–30) mm diam. Phyllaries 14–18+, unequal to subequal, herbaceous, margins not ciliate, faces glabrous (gland-dotted); outer 18–25+ mm (equaling or surpassing discs). Ray florets 5–8+; laminae 18–30 mm. Cypselae 6–8 mm, glabrous.

Flowering late May–early Jul. Grassy slopes, openings in forests; 700–1500 m; Calif.

Wyethia longicaulis is known only from the Coast Ranges of northern California.