This is widespread in eastern states, but tends to be less common to the north, where perhaps partly adventive (Cr). See notes under autumnale. In Ky. it is typical of varied open habitats on damp, medium acid soils. The closely related H. brevifolium (Nutt.) Wood has a more southern range, but it is known from banks of the Big South Fork on the Cumberland Plateau in Tenn. (Schmalzer et al. 1985; Ch). H. brevifolium differs in its strictly 5-merous disc flowers (versus predominantly 4-merous), which are purplish to yellow (versus brown, red or purple).