This is widespread across most of eastern North America, except the southeastern Coastal Plain. However, it is largely restricted to mesic and riparian woods on medium-acid soils. See notes under tenuiflora, which is sometimes confused. Both species have minute hairs below nodes, as in glabriflora and mexicana. Hybrids may be expected; reportedly, 2n = 40 for all of the rhizomatous "muhly-grasses" in eastern forests (FNA 25).