This widespread eastern biennial generally occurs in rocky woods on acid, non-calcareous soils. Based on molecular analysis of Alexander et al. (2013), canadensis appears relatively close to the East Asian species, Borodinia macrophylla (Turcz.) O. E. Schulz. Moreover, canadensis plus other Boechera species of eastern North America may be reasonably segregated from Boechera sensu stricto of western North America. Alexander et al. (2013) have provided new combinations for these species in Borodinia, but acceptance of this genus in North America remains somewhat controversial (FNA 7, W). There does not appear to have been a published morphological key to clearly separate Boechera sensu stricto fro Borodinia; thus, the division is not yet accepted here.