It is native to western North America, including British Columbia and Alberta in Canada and the northwestern United States.

This perennial herb produces several decumbent stems from a hairy caudex.

The stems are around 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length and have lance-shaped leaves measuring one or two centimeters long.

The ends of the stems have inflorescences which are dense racemes of yellow flowers.

lyrata, a taxon characterized by its very inflated, papery fruits, is endemic to Idaho.