The substrate often has little actual soil, and is more of a rock outcropping with pockets of fine entisols with little organic matter.

[2] While vegetation is sparse at these sites, associated species may include Agropyron dasystachyum, Agropyron smithii, Artemisia tridentata, Astragalus racemosus, Atriplex argentea, Atriplex nuttallii, Distichlis spicata, Eriogonum pauciflorum, Grindelia squarrosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Machaeranthera canescens, Melilotus officinalis, Oenethera cespitosa, Salsola iberica, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus in North Dakota.

In South Dakota Agropyron trachycaulum, Artemisia cana, Atriplex canescens, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Dyssodia papposa, Kochia scoparia, Oryzopsis hymenoides, Polygonum ramosissimum, Solanum rostratum, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Helianthus annuus also occur.

Trampling by the animals degrades the habitat and spreads introduced species of plants.

While this plant is considered a "sensitive" species by the United States Forest Service,[4] it is no longer a candidate for federal protection.

Prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project.