It is native to western North America from Alaska and north-western Canada to the south-western United States, as well as parts of Asia, including Siberia.

It grows in subalpine and alpine climates in mountain forests and riverbanks.

It is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing a slender prostrate stem up to about 20 centimeters long, sometimes forming clumps or mats.

The inflorescence is an umbel-shaped array of several flowers each on an arching or erect pedicels.

There are occasionally tiny white petals within the calyx of sepals, but these are generally absent.