It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of the central coast and southern California and Baja California, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Channel Islands.

It grows in many types of local habitat, including California chaparral and woodlands.

Sanicula arguta is a perennial herb growing from a thick taproot resembling a turnip.

The plant is mostly erect, growing up to half a meter tall.

The inflorescence is made up of one or more heads of bisexual and male-only flowers with tiny, curving, golden yellow petals.