It grows in the Southern Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau forests and woodlands on volcanic soils.

[1] This is a perennial herb[2] with a densely hairy stem growing from a woody caudex to heights between 30 and 70 centimetres (11+5⁄6 and 27+1⁄2 in).

It produces rough-haired, three-pointed leaves on thick petioles, each 1 to 5 centimetres (1⁄3 to 2 in) centimeters long.

It blooms in abundant cup-shaped pink-lavender flowers with five petals each 1 to 3 centimetres (1⁄3 to 1+1⁄6 in) long.

Threats to its existence include wildland fire suppression and forest habitat destruction by human activity such as logging.