Plants may reach 3 feet in height and primarily occur as weeds in winter small grains. Found throughout the eastern half of the United States and also from California north to Washington. Cotyledons are without hairs but the first true leaves have hairs and a grayish appearance. Leaves are narrow, approximately 2 to 6 inches long and inch wide. Due to the leaf appearance, these plants are often confused for a grass.
Leaves are alternate, linear in outline, and covered with long white hairs.
Erect, branching, and also covered with long white hairs. An achene that is approximately 4 mm long and 2 mm wide. Individual flower heads are approximately 1 to 2 inches wide and blue to purple, white, or pink in color. Winter annual with leaves and stems that are covered with long white hairs and leaves that resemble a grass. However, spotted knapweed forms a basal rosette of leaves during the first year of growth and its leaves are much more deeply lobed than those of cornflower.