This tickclover is frequent throughout the state, preferring dry soil. It is usually found on high ground in open places in oak woodland and in clearings and sometimes in low oak woodland, but usually in flats. Forms of this species with very narrow leaves so closely approach Desmodium paniculatum var. pubens that it is difficult to decide to which species they belong. In my comparatively short study of the genus I have not been able to find a single character that will definitely separate the two. Among my specimens are a few that have been assigned to this species by one authority and to the other species by another authority.