This is a widespread native plant in southern and midwestern states (especially from Ozarks to south), but it appears adventive or escaped from cultivation in more northeastern states. It is locally common and apparently native in c. Tenn., together with cumberlandensis. In Ky. some western records are from more or less native grassy vegetation, but most northern records are from weedy roadsides, adandoned lots or similar places. The earliest record was a listing by McMurtrie (1819), under the old synonym Verbena caroliniana L. (see also, Britton & Brown 1896). In 1914 Gm noted: "brought from farther south. Native?" See also G. X hybrida (Grönland & Rümpler) Nesom & Pruski.