It is native to the western United States from California to Idaho, where it grows in a variety of habitats from wet mountain meadows to dry chaparral slopes.

This is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing a patch of leaves, most of which are made up of many pairs of oval-shaped, bluntly lobed green leaflets.

The plant produces erect stems branching into green to reddish-purple rough-haired, leafless peduncles bearing inflorescences.

Each flower is up to a centimeter wide and bright white to lavender.

It is coated in downy white hairs and has a long protruding style and usually five stamens with large purple or red anthers.