The plant is native to the west coast of North America from Washington to Baja California, where it is a member of the flora of many habitats, including chaparral.

Pseudognaphalium californicum is an annual or biennial herb growing a branching stem reaching 20 to 80 centimeters in height.

Stem branches bear linear to somewhat lance-shaped leaves 2 to 20 centimeters long.

The leaves produce a distinctive citrus aroma.

The inflorescence is a wide cluster of flower heads, each enveloped in an involucre of rows of bright white phyllaries.