Native to screes in northern Patagonia, it has divided greyish or reddish green leaves and large white or pink flowers.

It has finely divided (dissected) leaves, greyish or reddish green in colour, up to 7 cm (2.8 in) across.

Article 62.4 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants explicitly states that genus names ending in -oides are feminine,[7] so the correct name of the species when transferred to Callianthemoides is Callianthemoides semiverticillata.

It grows in bare, often loose screes in mountains, at 1,500–2,300 m (4,900–7,500 ft), emerging from the ground in spring at the edge of the melting snow.

It is grown in pots under glass and in raised beds and containers outside, but has produced smaller flowers than in the wild.