It was released jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Idaho, Oregon, California, Washington and North Dakota in 1981. Plants are late, medium-large sized, moderately upright but becoming spreading at maturity. Stems are moderately thick, medium green and smooth. Leaves are of medium size, medium green, lightly pubescent with ovate leaflets that have obtuse to acute apices and are slightly rugose. Pollen is fertile and female fertility is good.
Tubers are oblong to long with rounded ends and have tannish-brown, medium to heavy netted skin.
Yields are medium to high. Lemhi Russet produces higher yields of U.S. No. 1 tubers than Russet Burbank or Norgold Russet in comparable trials. Tuber appearance is generally good. Specific gravity is medium to high and texture is excellent for baking and french fries. It has a high degree of tolerance to scab and net necrosis, but is susceptible to potato viruses S, X, Y, and leafroll.