This is widespread across eastern and central states; it is often cultivated, and may hybridize with idaeus. Rare plants (e.g. at Griffith Woods, HARR) with pale yellowish to amber fruit (and often yellow-green versus purplish canes) are known as forma pallidus (Bailey) Robins. R. occidentalis is most common on moist fertile soils along woodland edges or within thin woods. It is locally dominant under a walnut plantation at the Hoffman House of Campbellsville University in TAYL.