[2] The plant is endemic to California, where it is known from only about 20 occurrences in Marin and Napa Counties.

[2] It grows in chaparral and closed-cone pine forest habitats of the Northern California Coast Ranges, from 200–600 metres (660–1,970 ft) in elevation.

[3] Navarretia rosulata is a hairy, glandular annual herb growing up to 13 centimetres (5.1 in) tall.

The inflorescence is a cluster of many flowers surrounded by leaflike bracts and hairy, glandular sepals.

The flowers are white to lavender in color, tube-throated, and just under 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long.