It is a tuberous species of opuntioid cactus from the Mojave Desert of central Nevada, eastern California, northwestern Arizona and western Utah in the United States.

[3][4] Micropuntia pulchella grows in gravelly alluvial fans, often above salt flats or alkali basins.

Specimens can be locally common, although they are difficult to locate, often growing under other shrubs such as shadscale.

[5] Micropuntia pulchella differs from other North American opuntioid cacti in having a geophytic habit, where above-ground growth dies back to the crown in adverse conditions, and resprouts under more favorable conditions.

The areoles bear flexible yellow spines and white wool.