It is native to the Willamette Valley and Coast Range of Oregon and the southwestern corner of Washington in the United States.

[2] This plant is a perennial herb producing several erect stems up to a meter tall from a thick taproot.

[3] It grows in wet open habitat such as sedge and grass meadows and the transition zone from prairie to woodland.

[4] It can grow on sunny forest edges and in riparian habitat and it is tolerant of disturbance, occurring even near campgrounds.

[3] There are six main population centers, four in the Willamette Valley and one each in the Coast Range and southwestern Washington State.

Wildfires are beneficial for this plant, because they clear the large and woody vegetation that prevent sunlight from reaching it.