It is a plant of western North America, where it is a common flower in sagebrush country, mostly growing in dry lithosol habitats.

This perennial herb is variable in morphology, but usually forms a tight mat or loose clump on the ground.

[2] The short stems emerge from a woody taproot and caudex unit and the plant form is no more than 13 centimetres (5 in) tall.

[2] The abundant tiny, sharp-pointed leaves are oppositely arranged and barely exceed one centimetre (1⁄3 in) long.

The herbage is hairy in texture, the hairs short to long, woolly to cobwebby.