It grows in a variety of wetlands, including pond and lake margins across an extremely large range from eastern Canada south to Argentina.

[6] It is often found in areas where water levels fluctuate naturally, with spring flooding and later summer emergence.

[8] Like many wetland plants, it can survive unfavorable conditions as buried seeds in the soil.

[9] The flowers of the species are tristylous, meaning the styles of individual plants occur in three different morphs, with most populations containing all three.

[14] Like many wetland and aquatic plants, the species can reproduce asexually by means of branching rhizomes, and hence can form large clonal stands.