It is native to the Klamath Mountains of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon.

It grows in serpentine soils in chaparral and woodland habitat.

Sabulina howellii is a slightly hairy annual herb growing to a maximum height of 30 centimeters with a slender green stem which turns purple with age.

The thin, rigid, almost needlelike leaves are linear or narrowly lance-shaped, up to 1.5 centimeters long and under 2 millimeters wide.

The tiny flower has five white petals each a few millimeters long and smaller, ribbed sepals.