A native species, mostly of northern North America and Asia, originally described from Siberia, and found with us on gravelly and rocky shores of northern Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior.

Our plants are not always easily distinguished from B. vulgaris, and some authors would include them with that species. The lower leaves and stem are often strongly flushed with purple. The petals tend to be smaller (ca. 4–5 mm long) than those of the other two species (which are 5–8 mm). A few collections with upper leaves resembling those of this species (or B. verna) are referred to B. vulgaris on the basis of their larger petals and longer styles.