It is restricted to very dry, sandy soils, often in open pine or oak woodlands.

It is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 30–50 centimetres (12–20 in) tall.

The leaves are palmately compound with 3-5 leaflets 6–12 centimetres (2.4–4.7 in) long and 3–5 centimetres (1.2–2.0 in) broad, gray-green to silvery green, covered with fine white hairs.

The flowers are pale blue or violet, produced in a dense spike 15–30 centimetres (5.9–11.8 in) long.

It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens for its flowers and silvery leaves, produced in early spring.