It is widespread in north temperate regions and is parasitic on another species of fungus (Stereum hirsutum) that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of broadleaf trees.

[1] Tremella aurantia was first published in 1822 by German-American mycologist Lewis David de Schweinitz, based on collections from North Carolina.

[5] Tremella mesenterica is a widespread, north temperate fungus that also has bright yellow, gelatinous fruit bodies, but parasitizes the mycelium of Peniophora species, often on dead attached twigs.

[6] Macroscopically, Dacrymyces chrysospermus is nearly identical to N. aurantia, but belongs to the class Dacrymycetes and can be distinguished by its growth on conifer and its differently shaped spores and basidia.

Following its host, fruit bodies are typically found on dead, attached or recently fallen branches of broadleaf trees.