It is also present in some parts of the SW United States, but was probably introduced.

The Aztec and the Chichimeca ate S. cardiophyllum and the practice continues in some parts of Mexico today.

There was at least one farm that was growing S. cardiophyllum, S. ehrenbergii, and S. stoloniferum for market in Jalisco as recently as 2010.

Plants can reach a little over two feet in height, although many are much smaller in the wild.

Although S. cardiophyllum has small tubers, reaching about an inch in diameter, they compensate with a rare trait in wild potatoes: palatability.