According to GRIN, native to temperate Asia (Armenia, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey), and East-South Europe (Moldova, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, France, Spain).
Dicot, perennial herb with a low-growing basal rosette of tomentose (finely hairy, appearing silver) leaves and later with large leaves ascending the stalk with a large, many-branched infloresence of white flowers. Listed in Jepson as inhabiting "fields and roadsides."
Not in the Western Sunset Garden book, but present on Dave's Garden Website. Has been historically available as an ornamental, but listed noxious in several states (CO, CA, NV, WA), limiting ornamental sales