It is native to northwestern Africa, and it is known elsewhere as an introduced species, including the west coast of the United States.

It grows in many types of habitat, including moist, shaded, disturbed areas.

The leaves are generally oval in shape, the largest at the woody base of the stem.

The inflorescence is a coiled or curved array of tiny hairy flowers at the top of the stem.

The tubular flower has a flat pink or blue face up to a centimeter wide.