Native to eastern North America, it ranges from Ontario; Nova Scotia and Maine south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Missouri and Minnesota.

The leaves are repressed against the stem, 1-3mm long, and scale-like; an adaptation to reduce transpiration in exposed environments.

[4][5] It commonly grows in nutrient poor soil, sand, and on exposed sites, but is also known to occur in wetter areas such as coastal plain marshes.

[5] The name orangegrass refers to the citrus smell that is released when it is crushed.

[6] Chemical extracts of H. gentianoides have been found to inhibit the contraction of HIV.