Usually annual, occasionally perennial, Polanisia is native to North America, and is found throughout much of Canada and the United States.

It favors full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and barren, sandy or gravelly soils, even highly disturbed areas where there is little other ground vegetation.

[7] The common name clammyweed refers to the sticky, or clammy, residue left on hands after handling the plant.

Polanisia grows from 30 to 91 cm (1 to 3 ft) tall and the vegetation and sap have a noticeable odor described as smelling unpleasant, sulphur-like, "strong and rank".

The stems are covered in glandular hairs, and numerous flowers are borne in terminal racemes (May–October).