Draba norvegica is a small cespitose (forming dense clumps or tufts), herbaceous perennial plant with a rosette of leaves from which a simple unbranched or branched, (0.2-)0.4-1.4(-2) dm tall, flowering stem arises.

The basal leaves are simple, with hispid hairs, and narrowly oblanceolate in shape.

[2][3] Draba norvegica occurs along the Atlantic coast of eastern North America and northwestern Europe with disjunct inland populations.

In Canada it is found in arctic and subarctic areas growing on gravelly shorelines, ledges, cliffs, and stone barrens.

There is one small population in the USA state of Minnesota found growing on the rocky shores of Susie island in lake superior which has an arctic-like environment.