The plant blooms in April and May, bearing clusters of white or blue-tinged flowers.

The fruit is a nutlet covered with hooked hairs that allow it to attach to the fur of animals and be dispersed from the parent plant.

[2] This plant grows in open talus and rock ledges between stands of Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir.

As fire suppression is practiced in forests to protect property, large and woody vegetation grows up and shades out the rare plant and other shade-intolerant species.

It is threatened by the lack of suitable habitat, which has been reduced in size by factors such as fire suppression.