Stems 1-1.5 m, grayish-hairy distally. Leaf blades elliptic, distal lanceolate, 10-35 × 7-21 cm, reduced distally, grayish-hairy, at least when young. Inflorescences paniculate, with ascending branches, 20-50 cm, grayish-hairy; bracts ovate to lanceolate, shorter than flowers. Tepals creamy white to yellow, broadly ovate, not clawed, 6-15 mm, margins strongly erose-ciliate or inner shallowly fimbriate; gland 1, basal, green, V-shaped, elliptic; ovary densely tomentose; pedicel 6-15 mm. Capsules oblong-ovoid, 2-3 cm, densely tomentose. Seeds flat, broadly winged, 10-15 mm. 2n = 32.

Flowering summer--fall. Stream banks, moist meadows, mixed-evergreen forest margins; 0--1500 m; Calif., Oreg., Wash.

The only other whitish-flowered species in North America, Veratrum californicum, which might be confused with V. insolitum, has entire, unfringed tepals, and only slightly hairy ovaries.