[4] In Texas, stiff greenthread can be found growing along roadsides and on dry hills in the South Plains and Edwards Plateau regions.

The herb grows over much of the plains and mountain states, reaching up to Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota.

[citation needed] Stiff greenthread is found on disturbed sites on clays or sandy soils, on rocky slopes, and often on limestone, at elevations from 10 to 2200 meters, in South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, and Querétaro.

The inner whorl of phyllaries surrounding the lower portion of the bloom is translucent, which allows the colors of the developing flowers to be seen.

[6] The crushed leaves offer a pleasant aroma and can be made into tea, which is sometimes used medicinally by several Native American tribes.