Patrinia is a clump-forming plant which typically forms a 1-1.5' tall, basal mound of deeply toothed, oblong to ovate leaves which resemble those of Scabiosa. Sparsely-leaved stems topped with open, airy, terminal, corymbose panicles of tiny, chrome-yellow flowers rise from the foliage mound to a height of 4-6' in summer.