This is largely restricted to clifftops with acid soils at higher elevations in the Appalachian mountains, plus an outlying population in Ark. It is closely related to the widespread western species, W. scopulina D.C. Eaton, which is often combined as a variety or subspecies (FNA 2). The only Ky. record is from limestone on the north side of Pine Mountain in BELL (Cranfill 1980, and rediscovered in 2011). However, the original coll. (Medley & Cranfill #359-78) was not accessed at KY or DHL. W. appalachiana has also been found on Pine Mountain in Va. close to PIKE (M).