It is endemic to California, where it is a common member of the flora in the chaparral and scrub habitats in a number of regions.

This is a plant which is quite variable in morphology, producing small patches on the ground or growing erect to heights over half a meter.

The top of the stem branches neatly into flat-topped inflorescences packed densely with tiny flowers.

Each flower has a cylindrical base of six sharp-tipped bracts in shades of red to purple or green.

Within this involucre is the pink to red flower which is a few millimeters wide and contains nine tiny stamens.