It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Utah, where it grows in several types of habitat, including sagebrush and forests.

This is a perennial herb growing erect to a maximum of 70 centimetres (28 inches) tall.

Each palmate leaf is made up of 7 to 13 leaflets each up to 7 centimetres (2+3⁄4 inches) long.

The calyx of sepals around the base of the corolla has a knoblike spur at the back.

The flower corolla is white to yellow to various shades of purple or pink.