This short lived perennial is found in dry to mesic prairies and fens. It is an understory plant with small leaves. The flower spikes are dotted with dainty, pale blue flowers. In fens, it can be found with Carex stricta, Liatris pycnostachya, and Sporobolus heterolepis. In priaires, it is found with Dalea purpurea, Dodecatheon meadia, and Heuchera richarsonii. It produces