This plant is native to South America, Mexico, and the West Indies, however; it is widely introduced throughout the world.

The species occurs locally in France and Germany and is naturalized or invasive in tropical and subtropical regions of the United States (Florida and Hawaii), Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific.

It is a ruderal species, usually found in waste places or disturbed habitats.

This species is valued as a leafy vegetable throughout South and Southeast Asia and also in Africa.

[4] In Uganda, it is commonly cooked with onions, tomatoes and peanut sauce.