It is endemic to northern California, where it grows in the coniferous forests of the mountain ranges, including the Klamath 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 is white to lavender and up to 2 centimeters long.

This species can be distinguished from the more common and widespread Collomia tinctoria by the positioning of the stamens and stigma in the flower.