Medium to tall plant, stem erect, sometimes branched, broadening below the flowerheads. Leaves broad linear, wider at the base. Flowers lilac to reddish purple, 25 to 48 mm, flower bracts often 8, as long as, or slightly longer than the rays.

Very similar to Goats-beard, but with mauve flowers not yellow.

Grassy habitats, waysides.

May to August.

Biennial.

Locally naturalised or casual in Britain, especially in the south east of England.

An infrequent casual in Leicestershire and Rutland, and was not found in the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire.