This plant grows in sagebrush and alpine ecosystems. It grows in dry, rocky mountain habitat such as talus slopes. In Nevada it grows in limber pine and pinyon-juniper woodland habitat. On Steens Mountain in Oregon it has been observed among western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), curlleaf mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). In the Tendoy Mountains of Montana it is associated with big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) on limestone talus.