It is native to western North America from Alaska and Yukon south to Utah and northern California.

[1][2] Platanthera stricta grows in wet areas, such as shady forest meadows.

It produces a slender, erect flowering stem up to about 80 centimetres (31 in) tall.

The inflorescence has widely spaced green flowers, sometimes tinged red or purple.

The sepals and petals are around one-half centimetre (1⁄4 in) long and each flower has a club-shaped spur.