Moist sandy or rocky calcareous shores and interdunal flats near te northern shores of Lake Huron and Michigan; fens, wet prairies, sedge meadows, and calcareous river banks in southern Michigan.

The leaves taper abruptly to a rounded or obtuse tip. The lower leaves, especially in rosettes, may have blades as broad as 6 cm and on very long petioles, a striking feature as they do not wither until late in the season. The leaves are sometimes about as narrow as in S. houghtonii and small plants are sometimes confused with that large-headed species. Hybrids with S. ptarmicoides are discussed under that species.