It is native to North America, where it is most common in the north-central United States.

[1][2] This plant is a rhizomatous perennial grass with usually erect, branching stems up to 1.3 meters tall.

[1][2] This grass grows in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas.

It is often found in wetlands and other moist and wet habitat types, but it can grow in dry areas.

It is a common grass, but rarely a dominant or abundant plant at any given site.