A familiar Eurasian weed, widespread in lawns, gardens, and disturbed ground (roadsides, railroads, fields, etc.); also along trails and other disturbances in forests, both coniferous and deciduous. The earliest Michigan collection seen is from 1869 (Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co.).

Small or stressed plants with tiny leaves may resemble Arenaria serpyllifolia, but differ in having stems with sparse spreading pubescence rather than short, retrorse-appressed hairs.