It is native to the western United States, particularly the Great Basin and the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

It is a perennial herb growing from a woody taproot and spreading via lateral shoots.

It lacks a stem and takes the form of a flat rosette of hairy leaves with a central inflorescence.

The flowers at the center of the rosette have bright yellow petals up to about 2.3 centimeters long.

The fruit is a swollen, leathery capsule containing two rows of seeds.