Flower heads are several to numerous.
Curlycup gumweed is taprooted, and develops a short, vertical rhizome. Curlycup gumweed seeds were stratified for 10 weeks with a cold, damp regime. It is most common in dry prairies, waste places, roadsides, railroads, depleted rangelands, and abandoned croplands. Curlycup gumweed growth is poor to fair on gravel, clay, and dense clay, and good in sandy loam, loam, and clayey loam. It makes fair growth on saline soils, good growth on gentle and moderate slopes, and fair growth on steep slopes.