This blazing star is an upright, clump-forming perennial that grows to 2' tall. It typically occurs in rocky areas, glades and prairies. Fluffy, rose purple flower heads, each about 1 1/4 inch long, bloom in late summer. The blooms appear solitary or in a few clusters atop erect, leafy flower stalks. Sharp-pointed bracts form a tight elongated cylinder on each flowerhead, which gives the species one of its common name of Cylindrical Blazing Star. Narrow, linear, grass-like leaves to 10" long decrease in size toward the top of the plant.