Perennial herb to 50 cm tall. Stems with numerous alternate purplish bracts. Leaves to 30 cm long and wide, green above,white-woolly below, produced after capitula. Capitula to 4 cm across; spring. Ray florets with linear ligules. Achenes about 3 mm long.

Europe, Asia, North Africa

Source: Lawson, L.; Spencer, R. (2002). Dahlia. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.