It is shade tolerant but probably would not survive under a closed canopy. There is greater apportionment of genetic variability between populations than within. In New Jersey, C. mitchelliana does not exploit habitats disturbed by humans as much as C. crinita and C. gynandra. Although C. mitchelliana is known from at least one roadside ditch, where it is abundant, this habitat is adjacent to a less disturbed habitat in forested wetland. Most New Jersey habitats of C. mitchelliana are in openings in forested wetlands that are in a late successional stage.
Most populations are small and most reproduction probably is asexual from rhizomes.
Data is meager concerning fruit production and dispersal. The hard achenes may be dispersed by birds and some probably persist in a seed bank near the parent plant. Most extant habitats of C. mitchelliana in New Jersey are high quality wetlands in a late successional stage. There is no evidence of low vigor or vitality of individual plants and some disturbances that increase canopy openings may benefit them. The plants occur on portions of the New Jersey Coastal Plain that are more likely to undergo impacts from development.