This plant has large leaves and a stem that is hairy. The leaves at the base of the plant forms a rosette. The fruit is a small nutlet covered with spines. The leaves can be used in salads or cooked as greens. The flowers are used to make candies and jellies.
Leaves can have an laxative effect if eaten in large amounts.
The young plant leaves can be cooked as greens or used in salads. The ray flowers of these plants may range in color from white to lavender. The hairy, narrow, elliptical leaves attach directly to the plant stem. The leaves are without stalks. The common name of the plant comes from the belief that if it was hung in the home or dried and burned it would act as a insect repellent.