California false hellebore is a large (0.7-2 m tall), robust herbaceous perennial . The stems are unbranched and often clustered in groups. The leaves are large (10-35 cm long) and broad with prominent veins. The small (1 cm long) whitish flowers are borne in terminal branched spikes which are held rather erect. California false hellebore grows in wet meadows and open forests from low to subalpine elevations.