Perennial of the Boraginaceae family, native to the mountains of western North America, from the Rockies to Nevada and Oregon. It grows along mountain streams, in high-altitude moist meadows and cool screes, between approximately 1,500 and 3,500 meters.
It forms large, upright to slightly arched clumps, reaching 40 to 80 cm in height. The leaves are large, oval to heart-shaped, a deep green with veins, barely ciliated on the edges, which gives it its epithet. The stems bear at their top scorpioid cymes of drooping tubular flowers, a bright light blue, sometimes slightly tinged with pink-lilac at the bud stage before full opening.
In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August depending on the altitude. In cultivation, it generally blooms from May to July.
It requires a fresh to moist soil, well-drained in depth, rich in humus, in partial shade or a cool exposure. It does not tolerate summer drought and goes dormant as soon as late summer, which can be surprising. To be planted at the edge of a water feature or in a moist woodland garden.