This species, which grows on trees and rocks, is found in dry subtropical regions of the world, particularly in Africa and Central America.

[2] After Culbersonia americana was published, it was determined that the Arizona species was the same as one previously described from Africa in 1980 by Roland Moberg, called Pyxine nubila.

[4] Culbersonia was until recently thought to belong to the Physciaceae due to morphological similarities with some of the genera in that family.

Recent (2019) molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that it forms a monophyletic clade with Pyxine and Diplotomma, both of which are in the Caliciaceae.

These three genera are morphologically distinguished from the other Caliciaceae by the appressed foliose growth form and the absence of a mazaedium (a fruit body consisting of a powdery mass of free ascospores).