The lichen was first formally described in 1933 by the Finnish lichenologist Veli Räsänen; he named it as a variety of Cetraria juniperina (now Vulpicida juniperinus).

Räsänen distinguished his new variety from typical C. juniperina by several features: its erect thallus with obtuse lobes, bright golden-yellow colour, reticulate-veined upper surface, and smaller (1–3 mm wide), terminal apothecia.

The research, which analyzed five DNA loci, showed that V. canadensis forms monophyletic clades in all phylogenetic trees, indicating clear genetic separation from other species in the genus.

This genetic distinctiveness, combined with its unique morphological characteristics and restricted western North American distribution, strongly supports its status as a separate species.

[9] Vulpicida canadensis is endemic to northwestern North America where it grows as an epiphyte on the bark and wood of conifer trees.