Found mostly south of Michigan and barely west of the Mississippi. Like H. divaricatus, it is a forest and savanna species. The only Michigan collection (H. S. Pepoon in 1903, MSC) from “dry wood borders” gives no clue as to whether it should be considered indigenous here.

Helianthus divaricatus may have disks as small as in this species, but the rays are longer and the leaves nearly or quite sessile.