The plant is endemic to California, where it is known from just a few occurrences on the Central Coast.

Its habitat includes moist coastal meadows and canyons.

Sanicula maritima is a perennial herb growing to a maximum height near 40 centimeters from a taproot.

The green to yellowish leaves are simple or divided into a number of lobes, smooth-edged or toothed.

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