This member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae, formerly Compositae) is a shrubby perennial growing up to 30 inches high. It contains many long, gray-green stems with lanceolate, hairy, 3-inch leaves growing from the base. The stems tend to remain leafless near the top. Each plant may bear as many as 20 flowers. After wet winters, it is common to see many black caterpillars with gray and orange stripes on the foliage of the Mojave Aster