It is native to western North America from Washington to Baja California, where it grows on hills and mountains slopes along the coast and inland.

This is a perennial herb growing an erect stem up to about 60 centimeters (24 in.)

The inflorescence is a series of bracts in shades of bright red to yellowish.

Flowers appearing between the bracts are a bit longer and covered in hairs.

They are green to purple lined with red or yellow.