Shrub to 2.5 m high; stems green to purple, glabrous. Leaves opposite, lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 7–9 cm long, 2.5–3 cm wide, glabrous; margin subentire with a few very shallow teeth; petiole c. 15 mm long; base attenuate; apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescence of numerous capitula; capitula 5–7 mm diam.; involucre cylindric, 4–5 mm long; bracts narrowly lanceolate, green to reddish, glabrescent. Florets (6–)7–12, white to purplish, c. 6 mm long. Cypselas cylindric, c. 2.5 mm long, black, glabrous; pappus of bristle, 3 mm long, white. Flowers May–Oct.
VVP, HSF. Native to Central America. In Victorian known from one population at Sherbrook in the Dandenong Ranges, where probably the result of a garden escape.
