They are native to Australia and New Zealand where they grow in a variety of habitats from sea level to the Southern Alps.

The leaves have considerable variation in form, ranging in colour from white to green, and are often covered in fine hairs.

[7] Species of Craspedia are found in a wide range of habitats from coastal to alpine and are generally plants of open areas, sometimes ruderal.

Craspedia species may occur in dense, widespread populations in mainland Australia, but generally not in New Zealand or Tasmania.

In New Zealand, species can be found on coastal sand dunes, wetlands, fellfields, and greywacke rock scree.

Craspedia grow in a wide range of soil types, including sands, gravels, clays, and loams, which are derived from different geologies across a broad rainfall gradient.

This is apparent in the absence of Craspedia from parts of western Tasmania which are characterised by soils derived from pre-Cambrian quartzose rock.

All species prefer cool roots; surrounding the plants with rock, gravel, or sand provides better conditions.