It lives chiefly in shady woodlands, and grows up to 45 cm (18 in) tall, producing a cluster of up to 18 pale blue flowers in spring.

[3] H. paivae occurs in oak woodland and pine woods growing over Ulex, Erica cinerea and Cistus spp., as well as other shady habitats.

[1] The typical flowering period is March and April, although it can be as late as June in upland areas, such as Monte Pindo.

Later analyses of the species morphology demonstrated that the plants did not belong to H. italica, which is only otherwise found near the French–Italian border.

Somera", but more recent molecular phylogenetic analysis could not confirm any of the existing sections in the genus, and placed it instead in an informal group alongside H. non-scripta, H. hispanica and H. cedretorum.