It forms dense colonies in cultivated fields, orchards, pastures, and roadsides.

A native to Eurasia, Russian knapweed was introduced into North America in the late 19th century.

[5] The genus name derives from acro- (high, here meaning tip) and ptilo- (feather).

[7] A 1995 molecular phylogenetic study, the structure of the flower, and the chromosome number support separating it from the genus Centaurea.

Some sources then continue to place it as the sole member of the monotypic genus Acroptilon.