It is endemic to the coastline of San Luis Obispo County, California, where it grows on seaside bluffs in forested and grassy areas.

This annual herb is prostrate as opposed to erect as most other Clarkia species are.

Its stems extend to a maximum length approaching half a meter and are usually somewhat fuzzy in texture.

The sepals of the flower separate into two pairs, revealing the lavender-pink blooming petals.

Each petal is just over a centimeter long, fan-shaped to oval, and sometimes with a yellow base marked with a red spot.