[1][2][3][4] Diplacus viscidus is endemic to the western Sierra Nevada foothills of California, where it grows in bare and disturbed habitat, such as areas recently cleared by wildfire.

Diplacus viscidus is a hairy annual herb growing 2 to 37 centimeters tall.

The oval or oblong leaves reach up to 4.5 centimeters long.

The tubular base of the flower is encapsulated in a swollen, ribbed calyx of hairy sepals with pointed lobes.

The flower corolla is one to two centimeters long and lavender to magenta in color, with yellow stripes and darker spotting inside the hairy mouth.