It is native to much of western North America from Alaska to the southwestern and central United States and also in British Columbia.

It grows in moist to wet soils in a variety of habitat types, such as meadows, wetlands, plains, and montanes (Kershaw et al., 1998).

The oblong or widely lance-shaped succulent, pale green, leaves are oppositely arranged and measure anywhere from two to five centimeters in length.

[4] In Minnesota there is one population occupying about 25 square meters found around a cold water spring, as such it is listed as an endangered species in that state.

[3] Brussard noted that there have been failures and success when trying to preserve M. chamissoi due to mining development in the United States.