In forests along rivers and streams, very local, especially southward.

A taller species than the somewhat similar E. canadensis, and with an inflorescence that is drooping, not merely arching. The broad leaves of E. wiegandii are thin and mostly flat, while in E. canadensis the leaves are stiff and often involute, especially toward the apex. The larger glumes in E. wiegandii are 0.4–0.7 mm broad, while those of E. canadensis are 0.7–1.6 mm broad.