It is native to western North America from British Columbia to the mountains of northern California, where it grows in moist wooded areas, streamsides, meadows, and seeps.

[3] Despite its name it is not found in Nevada, rather, it was named for the Sierra Nevada, where it does occur in the northern mountains.

The leaves die back in winter.

Each leaf is made up of leaflets lined with smaller segments.

The undersides are glandular and resinous and sometimes hairy.