[3] It is native to the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California (Humboldt, Trinity, Siskiyou, and Del Norte Counties) and southwestern Oregon (Curry, Josephine, Jackson, and Douglas Counties).

[4] It grows in woodland habitat, almost exclusively on serpentine soils.

[3][5] Arnica spathulata is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing one or more hairy, glandular stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall.

[3][6] The inflorescence holds many flower heads lined with phyllaries coated in long, white hairs.

[3] The fruit is an achene up to a centimeter long, not counting its white pappus.