Erect biennial herb with basal overwintering rosette, stem 50-150 cm tall; pubescence densely strigillose, also with long, spreading hairs, usually with red blister-like bases, and glandular hairs on inflorescence. Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, 5-15 cm long, crinkled toward base, dentate to subentire. Flowers numerous in dense spikes; floral tube 35-50 mm long, straight in young buds; sepals 28-45 mm, reddish, free tips in bud 5-8 mm; petals 35-50 mm, yellow fading reddish orange; anthers 10-12 mm long; pollen 50% fertile; stigma elevated above anthers. Capsule narrowly lanceolate, generally straight, 20-35 mm long, 5-6 mm wide. Seeds in 2 rows per locule, 1.3-2 mm long, angled, reticulate and irregularly pitted, ca. 50% abortive. 2n = 14. Flowers Jul - Sep; fruit Aug - Oct.

ILAN: Szuyuanyakou, Peng 8348, Wang et al. 3588. HUALIEN: Kuanyuan to Pilu, Peng 8348.

Apparently originating in Europe, following hybrid origin between two N American species; now widely distributed in Asia, Europe, Australia, N and S America, and Africa; known from Taiwan at 1,950-2,350 m alt. Disturbed open places, edges of cultivated fields. Commonly cultivated.