The stems are erect, round, slender, pale green, much branched, and 1 to 6 feet high.
Leaves are narrow, bright green, hairy, numerous and are attached directly to the stem.
The upper leaves are narrow. The flowers are inconspicuous in the axils of upper leaves. Kochia can be found in cultivated fields, roadsides, and waste places throughout the state, up to 8,500 feet. It has become a major problem on roadsides, waste places, and noncultivated fields. In autumn the plants may become red and later turn brown, breaking away from the root, and tumbling over the ground scattering large amounts of seed.