Plants 1.5-2.5 dm; rhizomes elongate. Cauline leaves 2-3; blade pale green adaxially, oblanceolate to obovate, 8-20 × 2.5-6.5 cm. Inflorescences 1(-2)-flowered, erect; bract 1, narrowly linear. Flowers: tepals creamy white, broadly obovate to oblanceolate, 18-25 × 5-7 mm; filaments 11-18 mm; anthers oblong-linear, 3.5-5.5 mm. Berries deep lustrous blue, subglobose to pyriform, 10-18-seeded, 6-12 mm. Seeds 3-4 mm. 2n = 28.

Flowering late May--Jul. Montane coniferous forests; 0--2600 m; Alta., B.C.; Alaska, Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.