Perennials, 5-20 cm (cespitose). Stems erect, canescent. Leaves mostly basal; blades (± cuneate, 7-15 mm) entire or apices 3(-5)-toothed or -lobed, faces silvery-canescent. Heads usually 2-7 in subcapitate to corymbiform arrays (1-1.5 cm across), sometimes borne singly. Phyllaries 12-16, sparsely tomentose. Involucres 3-5(-7) mm. Cypselae 2-2.5 mm (3-5-ribbed, apices with thickened rims, faces glabrous or sparsely gland-dotted). 2n = 18. Flowering Jun-Jul. Dry hills; 2000-2600 m; Colo., Idaho, Nev., Wyo. Sphaeromeria argentea is moderately tolerant of alkali.