It is known from just 10 populations in the southern Inyo Mountains, at elevations of 1,800–2,710 metres (5,910–8,890 ft).

[5] Its habitat is dry, rocky mountain slopes, often in limestone.

[3] Laphamia inyoensis is a subshrub made up of a cluster of several hairy slender stems up to about 25 centimeters long.

The hairy, glandular leaves are one or two centimeters long, oval to triangular, pointed, and toothed on the edges.

[3][4] It is a California Native Plant Society listed Endangered species, and is threatened by proposed mining.