It is native to Europe, and northern Asia, and has been naturalized in eastern North America. The basal leaves are large so give these plants room to spread, and look their best. Plant about 90 cm from other plants. The basal leaves are 30 to 40 cm long and are held on petioles up to 30 cm long. Leaves become much reduced in size, and sessile or devoid of a petiole as they ascend the brownish, furrowed stem.
Leaves are quite velvety on their undersides but rough hairy above.
The 7.5 to 10 cm wide flowers are usually solitary but occasionally occur in groups of two to three. Inula helenium is coarsely magnificent in flower but declines quickly after flowering, particularly if the soil in which it is growing is allowed to dry out.