[3][5] It is native to parts of central and eastern United States, where it is found from Iowa south to Texas and east to North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

[12] Because the species is self-incompatible, it relies on pollinators to deliver enough pollen to produce seeds, with this posing a greater barrier to sexual reproduction than deficiencies in other resources.

[12][13][14] Several plant species which grow in conditions similar to T. recurvatum are commonly found along with it, including trees like Platanus occidentalis, Acer nigrum, and Tilia americana, as well as forbs like Podophylum peltatum, Arisaema triphyllum, and Sanguinaria canadensis, among others.

[9] Threats to T. recurvatum include habitat fragmentation and loss, overbrowsing by white-tailed deer, climate change, and invasive species.

[12][14][19] The destruction of forests for logging and agricultural development has reduced the habitat available to T. recurvatum, although not to an extent which significantly threatens the species' survival.

[12][18] The overabundance of white-tailed deer leads to increased browsing and decreased growth and flowering in the plant, affecting studied populations in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Quebec.

[14] Increases in temperature linked to climate change have caused shifts in the phenology of several plant species, including T. recurvatum, potentially disrupting their life history and negatively affecting survival.

[19] Invasive species, including Vinca minor, Alliaria petiolata, and Hesperis matronalis, compete with T. recurvatum for space and resources throughout much of its range.