It is native to western North America from Alaska to Ontario to California to New Mexico, where it grows usually in moist places in a wide variety of habitat types.

This wildflower is a perennial herb growing up to about 80 centimeters tall, slender and green to dark purple in herbage color.

The lance-shaped leaves are 3 to 6 centimeters long, pointed, and coated in thin hairs.

The inflorescence is made up of bright red to pale orange or orange-tipped bracts.

[2] Its native habitats include wet mountain meadows and stream banks below 11,000 feet (3,400 m).