This occurs mostly from the mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain to the Ridge-and-Valley, usually in low meadows but on drier ground than noveboracensis. V. glauca differs (Cr, FNA 19) in its "bright stramineous or pale tawny to nearly white pappus" (versus brownish-purple or sometimes merely dark-tawny), with outer bristles or scales grading into inner ones (versus distinct outer scales and inner bristles); leaves are relatively broad (with L/W usually 2.5-3.5 versus 4-6). There are no clear records from Ky., but there is an obscure unverified record from WARR (Pr, in handwritten addenda). Also, a more recent coll. from ROWA (KY) appears to be a hybrid between gigantea and glauca.