The taprooted mat-forming plant is only 2″ – 4″ (5 – 10 cm) tall with its foliage often hidden by the densely packed blooms. The showy flowers are like wheel-spokes around a yellow, or white, center throat. They are 1/2″ – 3/4″ and range in color from white to pink to various shades of purple, lavender and violet. The short, 1/2″, leave are needle-like. This rocky place plant requires good drainage and is usually found in open rocky slopes, talus, fellfields, outcrops and open forest at between 5,500′ to 7,500′ elevation.