Taprooted perennial from a basal rosette,developing a single stem to 1 m tall. Found throughout the eastern United States, through the Midwest, and to Arizona.
Petioles are as long as the blade.
Stem leaves have an ocrea and progressively become smaller up the flowering stalk. Leaves become more reddish-purple with age. All leaves slightly wavy on edges. In clusters of racemes on the upper portion of the elongating stem, consisting of greenish sepals that become reddish-brown with age. Large, broad leaves forming a basal rosette, later forming a single, erect flowering stalk.