[1] It grows at elevations of 500–1,900 metres (1,600–6,200 ft), in chaparral, California oak woodland, California mixed evergreen forest, and Yellow pine forest habitats.

[1] Pycnanthemum californicum is a perennial herb growing erect 0.5–1 metre (1.6–3.3 ft) in height.

It has hairless to fuzzy, aromatic herbage.

The oppositely arranged leaves are lance-shaped to nearly oval, each a few centimeters long.

[2] The inflorescences are located in clusters about the stem just above each upper pair of leaves.