Hartwrightia is a herbaceous perennial which grows in the southeastern United States (Georgia and Florida). It is found in open areas, for example in pine flatlands, but is not tolerant of grazing or solid forest cover. It seems to do better in the presence of regular fires. It is considered threatened and the biggest threat is loss of habitat. It requires wet soil, and is sensitive to hydrological changes.

The genus contains a single species, Hartwrightia floridana. Although superficially similar to some species in Eupatorium

Eupatorium

Eupatorium is a genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae, containing from 36 to 60 species depending on the classification system. Most are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 0.5–3 m tall. A few are shrubs. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere....

, it can be distinguished by the structure of the leaves, flowers, and fruit. The plant is about one meter tall. It flowers in the fall and the flowers are white to pink or blue.

Hartwrightia is classified in the subtribe Liatrinae of the tribe Eupatorieae, along with, for example, Liatris

Liatris

Liatris is a genus of ornamental plants in the Asteraceae family, native to North America, Mexico, and the Bahamas. These plants are used as a popular summer flowers for bouquets.They are perennials, surviving the winter in the form of corms....

, Carphephorus

Carphephorus

Carphephorus is a genus of seven herbaceous perennials native to the southeastern United States. They flower in late summer to fall.- Classification :...

, and Garberia

Garberia

Garberia is a shrub native to Florida. It grows in dry areas with sandy soils which do not contain much organic matter. It mostly flowers in the late fall, but can flower year round.- Classification :...

.

Ecology

The seed is a sticky achene

Achene

An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...

 without the large pappus

Pappus (flower structure)

The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...

which would suggest wind dispersal, so it is presumed to be transmitted by animals.