Perennial of the Asteraceae family, Celmisia gracilenta is an endemic species of New Zealand, present in both main islands. It colonizes alpine and subalpine meadows, rocky slopes, and well-drained screes, from lower levels up to about 1,500 meters in altitude.
It forms light and slender clumps, true to the epithet gracilenta, reaching 15 to 25 cm in height when in bloom. Its leaves are narrowly linear, rigid, and upright, dark green on the upper side, tomentose on the underside. One of its most striking features is the ability of the leaves and peduncles to turn a deep purple to brown-violet under the effect of cold or strong exposure, giving the plant a very distinctive appearance outside of flowering.
The solitary capitula, borne on thin and elongated peduncles, display pure white ligules surrounding a bright yellow disc. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from November to January. In cultivation in the northern hemisphere, it generally occurs in May-June.
It requires well-drained soil, acidic to neutral, in full sun. Sensitive to stagnant winter moisture, it benefits from protection against excess water in the cold season.