This diploid (2n = 18) is widespread across much of eastern North America, but rare to absebt on the southeastern Coastal Plain and Great Lakes region. It occurs typically in submesic to subxeric woods on base-rich soils, especially where soil is disturbed. It has also been reported on bottomlands, but there has probably been confusion with other species in some cases. In Ky., standleyanum and simplex are the only members of Chenopodiaceae to exhibit significant shade tolerance. In older literature the name C. boscianum Moq. was misapplied to standleyanum, and several records of "boscianum" should probably be reassigned here.