[4] It is native to North America, where it is known from western and eastern Canada and much of the United States except for the southeastern quadrant.

[6] Scrophularia lanceolata is a perennial herb producing clusters of erect or spreading stems up to 1.5 meters long.

The oppositely arranged leaves have toothed, triangular or lance-shaped blades up to 14 centimetres (5.5 in) long which are borne on short petioles.

The flower has a spherical or urn-shaped corolla opening at the top into a narrow mouth edged with hoodlike lobes.

The corolla is roughly 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long and is greenish tinged with brown or dull pink.