It is endemic to California, where it is known only from a section of the Central Coast Ranges in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.

It grows in the calcareous and diatomaceous soils of the coastal canyons at elevations not exceeding 500 meters.

[1] This plant is a perennial herb producing an erect, four-sided stem up to a meter tall or slightly taller.

The inflorescence is a wide-open panicle with several hairy, glandular branches bearing flowers.

The flower has an urn-shaped corolla with a rounded body and an open mouth at the top which is edged with hoodlike lobes.