This is widespread in northeastern states and adjacent Canada, but most common in the midwest and in a disjunct region from the Ozarks to central La. (K). In Ky. the species is known mostly from the Appalachian Cliff Section and Knobs; with scattered records also from the Cumberland Mts., Shawnee Hills and gravelly hills of the LBL area. There is much overlap in range with bicolor, and there are no clear differences in habitat. The only consistently observable difference from bicolor is corolla color: orange-yellow versus creamy or silvery white (F, Cr). On average, hispida is also reported to have broader inflorescences (Y), broader phyllaries with less contrastingly pale margins (F), and less distinctly clavate pappus bristles (FNA 20). There is considerable variation in pubescence within both species. Hybrids have been reported (F, Cr), but no definitive study has been published.