Erect to ± scandent woody herb or shrub 1.2-3 m tall; stems densely tomentose with short T-shaped hairs. Leaves sessile or petiolate, lanceolate to slightly obovate, 3-8.5 cm long, 1-3.8 cm wide, base cuneate to attenuate, margins obscurely to coarsely obtusely sinuate-serrate distally, apex obtuse to subacute, minutely apiculate, thinly pubescent above, pubescent and glandular beneath. Capitula numerous in terminal compound corymbiform cymes; stalks of individual capitula rather slender, densely appressed-tomentose; involucre campanulate, 2-3.5 mm long; phyllaries in few series, pale green, distally with purplish margins and midrib, obovate, obtuse to rounded, obscurely apiculate, 0.7-3.2 mm long, pale tomentellous, glandular. Flowers sweetly scented; corolla purple, mauve or blue, 6-7 mm long, tube narrowly infundibuliform, 4.5-5 mm long, lobes 2-2.5 mm long, glabrous, sparsely glandular. Achenes 2.2-2.6 mm long, 5-6-ribbed, ascending-pubescent; outer pappus of narrow laciniate scales or flattened bristles, 0.5-1.2 mm long, inner pappus white, 4.5-5 mm long.