The plants are quite tall, especially the hookeri subspecies, native to California, which can reach about 1.8 meters (6 feet) height.

[2] The plants are found along roadsides, in moist meadows, or in woodland, from sea level up to 9,000 ft (2,700 m) in elevation.

[3] The stout, usually reddish stem has many long, narrow leaves, above a basal rosette.

The fragrant flowers open at dusk and wilt the next morning, turning orange or red.

[3] The Zuni people apply a poultice of the powdered flower of the hookeri subspecies and saliva at night to swellings.