It is endemic to California in the United States, where it occurs in the northern Sacramento Valley and the adjacent edges of the Cascade Range foothills.

The inflorescence is a dense, coiled cyme of several flowers with soft-hairy sepals and white corollas.

The recent observations have extended the plant's known distribution and show that it grows at higher elevations than previously thought.

[1] Threats to the survival of the species include gravel mining, off-road vehicle use, grazing, and development.

[3][4] Introduced species of plants in the area are also a threat, including red brome (Bromus madritensis ssp.