It is native to the coastline of southwestern Oregon and far northwestern California, where it was counted at a total of 33 sites in 1995.

[2] It is the only phacelia species endemic to coastal sand dune habitat, an ecosystem which is altered and declining in the area.

[2] This is a hairy, fleshy perennial herb growing prostrate or upright to a maximum length near 45 centimeters.

The inflorescence is an array of one-sided coiling cymes of many bell-shaped flowers each about half a centimeter long.

[2] A main threat to this rare species is the presence of the introduced non-native European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria), which was once planted to stabilize the sand dunes and now dominates.