The plant is native to western North America, in Northwestern Mexico in Baja California and Sonora, and the Pacific Northwest and Southwestern United States.

It grows in many types of habitats, including desert scrub, woodland, and grassland.

Pectocarya setosa is an annual herb producing a slender, rough-haired stem, generally upright to erect in form to a maximum height of about 23 centimeters.

The small, pointed linear leaves alternately arranged along the upper stem, and oppositely along the lower part.

The flower has small green sepals, which are lined with hairs and long bristles.