In North America it occurs throughout northern regions, including northern sections of the United States and most all of Canada, its range continuing to Greenland.

[2] The grass occurs in a variety of Arctic and alpine habitat types, as well as many types of mountainous habitat in regions further south.

It is a perennial grass forming clumps of upright stems ranging in height from a few centimeters to over one meter.

The narrow leaves are mostly located around the bases of the densely clumped stems.

The spikes are green to purple or brownish and shiny.