Cardamine bellidifolia

The alpine bittercress can be found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. In the United States, populations have been located in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, New Hampshire, and Maine. In Canada, populations have been found in the provinces of Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alberta, and British Columbia.^[1] In mainland Europe, alpine bittercress had been found in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. Additionally, alpine bittercress is native to Greenland, Iceland, and Russia.^[7][8][9]

While alpine bittercress is listed as secure globally, the species is listed as vulnerable in Alberta and Labrador, critically imperiled on Newfoundland island, and it is presumed extirpated from Maine.^[1] Though the species is unraked in New Hampshire, it is very rare and can only be found in the alpine northern portion of the state.^[10]

In the United States, alpine bittercress is a facultative (FAC) plant (facultative wetland (FACW) in the Northcentral and Northeast region (NCNE)), and occurs in wetlands and non-wetlands.^[11] Across its range, the species prefers alpine and subalpine climates, and can be found on or around alpine brooks, cliffs, ravines, rocky slopes, fellfields, and alpine meadows.^[5][12][4] It grows in elevations of 1800 to 2850 m (5905.5 to 9350.4 ft).^[2]

Alpine bittercress is currently believed to be in decline as there more known historic occurrences than current occurrences.^[10] Potential threats include trampling,^[10] reduction and removal of viable habitat, and small population sizes.^[5]