Forewings are rounded. Upperside of forewing is dark brown with a small yellow-orange area and small cream spots. Hindwing is mostly orange with a black border and black veins.
Females lay eggs singly under the host plant leaves, which are eaten by the caterpillars.
Caterpillars rest between a leaf and a stem, strengthening the area with silk before they molt. Inland populations sip nectar from swamp milkweed, purple loosestrife, and blue vervain. Coastal populations use nectar from dogbane, swamp milkweed, pickerelweed, thistles, salt marsh fleabane, and others. Freshwater and saltwater marshes. Inland populations range from the eastern Dakotas east to south Quebec and central New York.