Perennials; (densely cespitose); caudex few-branched (compact, with persistent, thickened leaves); not scapose. Stems unbranched or branched distally, 0.3-0.7 dm, glabrous throughout or, rarely, pilose, trichomes simple and stalked, 2-rayed, 0.2-0.5 mm. Basal leaves (persistent, imbricate); rosulate; undifferentiated into blade and petiole (becoming indurate at base); blade linear-lanceolate, 0.5-0.8 cm × 1-1.5(-2) mm, margins entire, surfaces glabrous or, rarely, pilose with simple and stalked, 2-rayed trichomes, (margins ciliate with simple and, rarely, 2-rayed setiform trichomes, 0.5-1.3 mm, midvein prominent). Cauline leaves 6-8; sessile; blade linear-oblong, 0.5-0.8 cm × 1-2 mm (widest about base), margins entire, (ciliate). Racemes 10-26-flowered, ebracteate, elongated in fruit; rachis not flexuous, usually glabrous, rarely pubescent, (trichomes non-crisped, simple and 2-rayed). Fruiting pedicels ascending, straight, 3-5(-7) mm, usually glabrous, rarely pilose, (trichomes simple and 2-rayed, stalked). Flowers: sepals ovate, 1.7-2.7 mm, usually glabrous, rarely pilose, (trichomes simple); petals yellow, oblong-oblanceolate, 4-6 × 1.5-2 mm; anthers oblong, 0.5-0.6 mm. Fruits narrowly lanceolate, twisted 1/2 turn or plane, flattened, 7-10 × 1.3-1.6 mm; valves glabrous; ovules 16-20 per ovary; style 0.7-1.3 mm. Seeds ovoid, 1 × 0.6 mm. Flowering Jun-Jul. Alpine tundra; ca. 3700 m; N.Mex. Draba heilii is restricted to Mora and Rio Arriba counties.