It is native to much of the western United States, including the Great Basin and surrounding plateaus and deserts.

[3] It occurs in several types of habitat, often growing in sandy, mineral-rich, and alkaline soils, such as those on playas.

Thelypodium integrifolium is a biennial herb producing a hairless, waxy stem with a thick, sturdy base, unbranched or branching toward the top and sometimes becoming quite tall, approaching three meters in maximum height.

The thick, waxy leaves are not compound or lobed, having smooth edges.

The inflorescence is a dense, cylindrical, spikelike raceme of white or purplish flowers.