This largely Ozarkian species is known from disjunct eastern areas on limestone cliffs, or sometimes sandstone. It has been difficult to determine the alien versus native status of some records, and distinction from the alien coronarius is often difficult. See also "cf. intectus" for potential taxonomic confusion; ranges of pubescens and "cf. intectus" may overlap slightly and, since some intermediate plants have been observed, maintenance as distinct species may be untenable. Only probable native plants are mapped as certain records. Colls. from CLAR (JC for KY, living with D. Svetich) and JEFF (DHL) may be derived from plantings or locally naturalized. However, there are records of native plants from near JEFF in MEAD (KSNPC database) and HARD (APSC, "Tioga Springs alluvial woods, Fort Knox").