It is native to the western United States from Washington to Montana to California, where it grows in open, rocky habitat in mountains.

It is an annual herb producing a slender, branched stem no taller than about 8 centimeters.

The inflorescence is composed of two or three flowers emerging from the leaf axils.

Each flower has pointed sepals tipped with awns.

The flower has a purplish tube and a pinkish corolla.