Shortly-rhizomatous plant. Flowering stem 35-70 cm, leafy. Leaves sessile, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 5-8 cm x 2-5 cm. Flowers in umbelliform-capitate heads, bright red, large, up to 2.5 cm diam. V - early spring to mid autumn, in St. Petersburg April to September. Fl - June-July. Fr - August. P - very easily by seed. Flowers the year after sowing. Prefers sunny places, tolerates partial shade. Z 5 (4).