[1][2][3][4] This species is endemic to eastern montane California, where it is known from the high mountain ranges of the southern Cascades through all the Sierra Nevada into the Tehachapi Mountains.

It grows in open and disturbed mountain habitat types, such as rock outcrops.

Diplacus torreyi is an annual herb growing 4 to 38 centimeters tall.

The tubular base of the flower is encapsulated in a thin, green, lightly hairy calyx of sepals.

The flower is pink in color with two gold stripes with magenta borders in the mouth, and usually no spotting or other markings.