Plants 3-8 dm; rhizomes short, thick. Cauline leaves 4-6; blade dark green, oblanceolate to broadly elliptic, 20-35 × 5-15 cm. Inflorescences in terminal, umbel-like clusters, 1-3(-5) lateral clusters usually present, 20-45-flowered; bracts 1-3(-5), foliaceous. Flowers: tepals deep claret red, narrowly oblong to oblanceolate, 10-18 × 3-3.7 mm; filaments 7-10 mm; anthers oblong, 1.8-2.8 mm. Berries blue to bluish black, ovoid, 10-30-seeded, 8-12 mm. Seeds 3-4 mm. 2n = 28.

Flowering late Apr--late Jun. Moist, coastal redwood forests; 0--400 m; Calif., Oreg.