Stems 3-15(-50) cm. Leaf blades commonly green, sometimes glaucous, ovate to elliptic or oblanceolate, 0.5-3(-5) × 0.2-1.5(-2) cm. Petals mostly dark red throughout. Seeds 1.4-2 mm. 2n = 36.

Flowering summer. Cliffs and rocky slopes, alpine meadows, tundra; 0-2000(-4000) m; Alta., B.C., Yukon; Alaska, Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.; Asia.