Plant 15-60 cm. Rhizome thick. Leafy stems few, rarely branched, woolly-tomentose. Basal leaves pinnatisect, petiolate, upper leaves sessile, lanceolate or linear. Heads solitary, 2.5 x 1.5 cm, flowers bright pink. V - early spring (some leaves usually overwinter) to late autumn. Fl - April, May in the wild. Fr - June. P - by seed. Good for the flower bed. Very drought resistant. Z 5. New.

Central Asia (Pamiro Alay). Foothills, rocky and sandy slopes, steppes.