A weed of European origin, locally well established. Fields, lawns, thickets and borders of forests, roadsides and other disturbed ground, shores; often in grassy places and usually in moist rather than very dry sites. First collected as early as 1865 in Chippewa Co.

This species bears a strong superficial resemblance to S. longifolia, but only one truly ambiguous Michigan specimen has been seen (from Beaver Island), with sepals and bracts not ciliate and non-papillose leaves. Both are readily distinguished from S. borealis by the definitely scarious bracts and usually more elongate leaves.