This stoloniferous perennial is a widespread northern and western species that could well occur in Ky. In some literature there has been confusion with the more northern species, E. palustre L. Plants under either of these names have been reported for Ky. by Short (1840), Gl and other authors (M). However, no coll. has been yet been discovered in herbaria. The closely related northeastern species, E. strictum Muhl. ex Spreng. has been sometimes grown in Ky. as a "wildflower", but it is generally absent from southeastern states except in cooler zones (W).