It grows in seasonally wet habitats such as meadows and vernal pools, including those in the San Joaquin Valley and near north coast oak woodlands.

[1][2][3][4] Diplacus tricolor is an annual herb growing up to about 14 centimeters in maximum height.

The oppositely arranged, lightly hairy leaves are widely lance-shaped and up to about 4.5 centimeters long.

The flower corolla may be up to 5 centimeters long, its narrow tubular base emerging from an uneven calyx of sepals.

The wide mouth of the flower is deep pink in color with a white and yellow blotched throat and a large maroon spot at the base of each of the five lobes.