Stems are branched and produced during the latter part of the growing season. A taproot that is relatively large and brown in color. Produced in clusters of 1 to 3 on the flowering stems. Individual flowers are approximately 1 inches in diameter and are blue, purple, or white in color. An achene that is approximately 2 to 3 mm long and angled.
Plants initially produce a basal rosette of leaves that resembles dandelion.
Leaves are also produced on flowering stems during the same season. All leaves are alternate and lanceolate in outline and usually have rough hairs on both surfaces. All of the leaves are also slightly dissected or lobed and usually have toothed margins. The lobes that occur are not always opposite one another unlike those of dandelion. Rosette leaves are approximately 3 to 10 inches long by to 3 inches wide.