Plants are highly competitive, persistent, and can rapidly colonize new sites by vegetative reproduction. Introduced from Europe.
Leaves obovate to oblanceolate, bluish-green, dull, glabrous, form a basal rosette.
Margins wavy to lobed, with backwards pointing spiny teeth. Lower surfaces often have a powdery white or purplish film. Newly initiated leaves sometimes pubescent. Seldom flower the first year. Stems erect, hollow, ridged, branched only in the upper portion of the plant.