This species is endemic to Northern California, where it is an uncommon resident of the rocky ledges of the Northern Outer California Coast Ranges.

[1] Epilobium septentrionale is a squat, clumpy perennial growing in thin patches of soil between rocks and sending up a few erect stems.

The leaves are oval and pointed, glandular, and covered in a coat of white fuzz.

At the end of each erect branch is a glandular inflorescence bearing a bright red-orange tubular flower 2 or 3 centimeters long.

A bunch of stamens and one long pistil protrude obviously from the mouth of the bloom, which is pollinated by nectar-feeding birds.