This occurs in warmer regions of southeastern states, usually on dry sandy soil in thin woods with a history of browsing or burning. In Ky. it is largely restricted to broader ridges of the southern Appalachian Plateaus, but it is locally common especially along sandy dirt road beds. There are also a few records from lowlands along the lower Cumberland Rv. in TRIG (pers. obs.) and CRIT (R. Athey #357 & 452); a 1986 observation of JC/MM from LIVI (Mantle Rock area) remains unverified.