Inhabits regions with temperate to tropical climates. Southern and eastern North America to South America. Inhabits regions with tropical to warm temperate climates. Reproduce vegetatively from tubers and by seed . Tubers and seeds disperse with agricultural and nursery activities, soil movement, and in water, especially flooding.
Seeds also disperse with wind.
Seeds and tubers germinate in spring. One plant can produce hundreds to thousands of tubers in one season. Seed production can be high, but viability is variable. In California, seed viability is typically low. Patch boundaries can increase by more than 1 m per year.