Young leaves are essentially without hairs and immediately take on a rosette growth habit. Erect, branched, with spines extending down the stem from the leaf bases. During the first year of growth a basal rosette of leaves form with the first 2 true leaves being opposite and all subsequent leaves alternate. During the second year of growth, the rosettes elongate and flowering stems are produced. All leaves that occur on the flowering stems are also alternate.
All leaves are dark green in color with light green to white midribs and veins.
Leaves are lanceolate in outline, deeply lobed and approximately 10 inches long by 4 inches wide. Three to five spines occur along the margins of each lobe, and these white or yellow spines are approximately 2 to 5 mm long. The leaf bases extend down to the stem, and the leaves become progressively smaller up the stem. Solitary flower heads are produced at the end of branches. Individual flowers are 1 to 2 inches wide and are pink to violet or purple in color.