Packera franciscana grows on two of Arizona's San Francisco Peaks, Humphreys Peak and Agassiz Peak, and the saddle between them. These are the two tallest mountain peaks in Arizona. It grows in alpine tundra habitat in the volcanic talus of the mountain slopes, an area with little vegetation located above the tree line. This is the only alpine zone in Arizona. The elevation is between 3200 and 3800 meters, with most of the plants occurring between 3525 and 3605 meters.