The strawflower is an erect perennial, sometimes annual, herb that is rarely branched at its base. Usually, it reaches a height of up to 80 cm. The green stems are covered with fine hairs. The leaves are lanceolate, elliptic, or oblanceolate in shape and measure up to 10 cm long and up to 2 cm wide. They are also covered with hairs. Sitting atop tall stems above the foliage, the flower heads range from 3 to 7 cm in diameter. Occasionally, multiple heads arise from one stem. Like the flowers of all Asteraceae, they are composed of a central disc which contains several tiny individual flowers, the florets.
Strawflowers will bloom until the first hard frost and come in a variety of reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, white and purples. As its name suggests, strawflower blooms are straw-like: crisp, papery, and sturdy. The petal-like structures are not botanical petals but bracts, special leaves that draw in pollinators and stay colorful for years if stored somewhere dry.