[1] It is native to western North America from Oregon to Baja California, where it grows in many types of habitat, including maritime and inland chaparral, woodlands, and forests.

It is a perennial herb or subshrub producing a branching, ribbed or ridged stem up to about a meter in maximum height.

The lance-shaped to nearly oval leaves are up to 7 centimeters long and smooth-edged or somewhat wavy.

The inflorescence is an umbel-shaped array of several flowers, each borne on a short pedicel.

The flower corolla is around 2 centimeters wide when fully open and is usually purple, but sometimes white.