[5] Physcia aipolia is a common, widely distributed species, and can be found growing on a variety of trees and branches.

[8] Physcia aipolia is a common lichen, that typically grows in well-lit, nutrient dense areas.

[10] Physcia aipolia has a wide coverage of habitat ranging from Eastern Canada, Alaska, California, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri.

It is found in both rural and urban environments, and this lichen can tolerate environmental stress and desiccation in arctic, temperate, and boreal areas of North America and Eurasia.

Physcia aipolia has been used to measure regional levels of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, N, and S, which are then compared to local air pollution data.