This occurs across much of eastern North America, except for the southeastern Coastal Plain and midwestern plains. It is centered in Appalachian regions, but extends westward in a somewhat fragmented range to the Ozark/Ouachita region (K). Although most common in Ky. along rocky slopes with limestone or base-rich shale, it also occurs below sandstone cliffs in western regions of the state (perhaps due to general raising of pH/Ca by redeposited loess); and it is "often on acidic substrates" in Mo. (Y). Such plants in the Shawnee Hills appear distinctly shorter (D. Dourson, pers. comm.). Moreover, it is reported from other habitats in other regions, including "streambanks, riverbanks" (W). M. virginiensis has a range of reported chromosome numbers; 2n = 20-28 and 38 (FNA 8). Segregates are not currently recognized in Ky., but F recognized some distinct forms in more northeastern states. See FNA 8 and W for references to recent research on generic assignments within Saxifraga, sensu lato.. There have been reports from Ky. of two closely related southern Appalachian species (FNA 8, RAB): M. caroliniana (Gray) Small and M. careyana (Gray) Small. Recent revision has indicated that these are recorded close to Ky. in the Ridge and Valley region of Tenn., Va. and W.Va. But the reports from within Ky. remain dubious (M, W and citations).