This is widespread in thin swampy woods and marshes of eastern North America. A coll. from HARD (KY) is referable to var. pedunculata Gray, which is not recognized in recent treatments but seems transitional to lupuliformis; see notes under that species. C. lupulina occurs in relatively diverse habitats compared to gigantea, louisianica and lupuliformis but iit has relatively short rhizomes and does not generally form large patches (FNA 23, Hill 2006).