Tall white violet is an old forest indicator. Its range within Massachusetts is only within western counties. Var. canadensis is widespread both in eastern and western North America with a gap in the central US, while var. rugulosa is widespread in central and western North America, and a third variety, var. scopulorum is present in only three western states: Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico (where the other two varieties also occur--except var. canadensis in New Mexico).