Each pod is oval, reddish brown and a half inch long containing two or four seeds. The plants normally grow from 10 to 24 inches tall. They have both basal and stem leaves. Basal leaves taper to a short stalk that attaches to the crown near the ground. Stem leaves are grayish green, arrowhead shaped, with smooth and occasionally finely toothed edges.
All leaves have a covering of soft white hairs.
The base of each leaf clasps around the stem at the point of attachment. All three whitetop species are herbaceous, relatively long-lived and rhizomatous perennial weeds. They begin their life-cycle in the fall with seed germination and seedling establishment. Occasionally, seeds germinate in the spring. Seed leaves grow very rapidly and lateral roots develop within three weeks.