Flowering occurs on new stems and is therefore stimulated by fire or mowing. D. rugelii is native to pine flatwoods. Until fire suppression became widespread, the structure of the pine flatwood vegetation was maintained by frequent fires. Detailed information on the soils where Deeringothamnus rugelii occurs is not available at the present time. Most of the soils are undoubtedly Haplaquods that occupy slight ridges or at least relatively dry portions of a very flat, poorly drained landscape.
Soil textures are sand or fine sand.
The sites are flat, poorly drained, and sunny or lightly shaded. Deeringothamnus rugelii is a small shrub that is easily shaded out by the other shrubs in its habitat. On some sites. Lack of fire or equivalent disturbance leads to successional changes. No information available.