It is native to much of western North America from Alaska to the southwestern United States, as well as eastern sections of Canada and the Great Lakes.

It can be found in forest, woodland, and scrub habitat, often in dry areas.

The upper part of the stem is a slender, spikelike inflorescence of widely spaced translucent green flowers.

[1] The plant is variable in size, stem thickness, density of inflorescence, petal shape, and scent.

[1] Plants of the coast ranges and the Pacific Northwest are stouter and have broader sepals and petals than do interior and montane forms.