It is native to north-easternmost Russia, including Kamchatka, and western North America, where it grows in mountainous habitat in subalpine and alpine climates, including meadows, cliffs, and talus.

It is a perennial herb producing a stout stem from a fleshy, branching caudex, reaching a maximum height near 30 centimeters.

The fleshy leaves are alternately arranged on the stem, widely lance-shaped to oval and pointed, flat but upcurved toward the tip, reaching 2.5 centimeters long.

The inflorescence is a dense cyme of up to 50 flowers with fleshy petals in shades of bright red to deep purple.

[5] This subspecies is considered a relict from times when its range was covered in glaciers; it survives on barren cliffs which are kept cold by air blowing through cracks from caves.