Moist forests, coniferous and mixed, including cedar and tamarack swamps and some rocky sites; seems to bloom best along trails and after clearing.

This is our only relatively common species, represented by var. palmatus (Aiton) Cronquist. An attention getting plant when observed in flower without leaves, and striking even in fruit. Large clones of leaves are present in the summer, but because of the early blooming this species is doubtless under-collected.