[1] Dendromecon rigida occurs in Northern California in the foothills of the California Coast Ranges, Klamath Mountains, southwest Cascade Range, and western Sierra Nevada in the Montane and Interior chaparral and woodlands and other habitats.

[1] It is found in the foothills of the Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges and in other areas, in Interior and Montane chaparral and woodlands and other habitats, in Southern California and northern Baja California Peninsula.

Plants grow on dry slopes and washes, and prefer areas that have just been burned.

[1] Dendromecon rigida is a small perennial shrub,[2] rarely exceeding 3 metres (9.8 ft) tall.

The many seeds are smooth, brown or black, with a small pale outgrowth.