The long, soft, white hairs that cover the leaves and stems are a distinguishing characteristic of the white-haired goldenrod. This rhizomatous, perennial herb is decumbent or laxly spreading in its habit. Leaves are ovate to elliptic, acute or pointed, with bases that are almost heart shaped and coarse, serrate margins.
Hairs cover both surfaces of the leaves and are most dense along the veins.
The flowers are fragrant and bright yellow. The habitats of the two species are also distinct. The presence of a fine pappus on the fruit of this species suggests that it is primarily dispersed by wind. Plants are rhizomatous, but the extent of vegetative reproduction is not known. Endemic to Kentucky, the species grows behind the dripline of sandstone rockshelters and on rock ledges.