The plant is an upright or sprawling perennial with numerous branches. Its preferred habitat is moist ditches, swamps and damp meadows. Distribution is throughout the Escambia region.

The leaves are alternate on the stem, up to six inches long on the lower stem and reduced upward; lance-like in form and toothed at the leaf margin. The leaf base often forms a winged extension down the stem.

The numerous flowers are large daisy-like heads, about one inch in diameter, three rounded toothed and drooping. The disc flowers are conspicuous greenish-yellow ball-like structures at the center of each head. All flowers are bisexual in nature and symmetrical in form. Flowering occurs in late summer and early autumn.

The fruit of Autumn Sneezeweed is a seed which outer layer is fused to it (achene).