In Minnesota a wide range of sites but preferring partial to full shade and moderately moist, nutrient-rich soils. Found in both early successional and mature forests. Across its range, blooms May to July and fruits August to October. A perennial herb with a thick rootstock buried in the soil. It frequently grows in moist microsites where fire severity and frequency may be lower.
Fire generally kills aboveground portions but the rootstock appears to survive many fires.
Berries eaten by deer mice, white-footed mice, red squirrels, eastern chipmunks, and redbacked voles. Some of the small mammals remove and eat the seeds leaving the the pulp. Fruit is consumed by several species including Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, American Robin, Gray Cheeked Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, and Grouse. Several species eat the fruit but void the seeds. They also chewed leaves and put them on boils and wounds to stimulate blood flow.