It prefers sandy, well-drained soil and mostly exists in pine/blackjack oak forests on sandhills, rims of Carolina bays, dunes, dry pastures, fields and roadsides.

Flowers occur throughout the spring and summer followed by a small capsule that produces three large seeds.

The entire plant above ground, including the flower petals, is covered with stinging hairs.

[2] As the common names imply, the urticating hairs on this plant contain a caustic irritant that inflicts a painful sting to those who contact it with bare skin.

[3] The species name stimulosus comes from the Latin stimulus, meaning "goad" or "prod".