It is commonly found in Europe, Russia, Alaska and Canada, where it is often the most abundant moss species.

It also grows in the Arctic tundra and further south at higher elevations in, for example, northern California, western Sichuan, East Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies.

Under the UK's national vegetation classification system, pinewood community W18 is named as "Pinus sylvestris-Hylocomium splendens woodland", indicating its significance in this ecosystem.

[6] This form of growth enables the species to "climb" over other mosses and forest debris that falls on it.

[10] The species has a commercial use in floral exhibitions and for lining fruit and vegetable storage boxes.