Old man's beard is natively found in North America, particularly within the warmer regions of the continent. Although mainly documented in its indigenous range, this climbing plant has shown the potential to extend beyond, often through garden escape and naturalization, enhancing its presence in similar climates across other regions.

The old man's beard plant is poisonous if ingested or contacted. Symptoms include salivation, upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritations. Children and unprotected gardeners are particularly at risk.

Old man's beard can create very dense and vigorously-growing groundcovers that regrow from roots even if all the aboveground stems are destroyed by frost or mechanically. The seeds spread efficiently due to being carried by the wind or sticking to clothing or vehicles. The sap of the plant is toxic and caustic, so it won't be eaten by cattle. These traits can make it undesirable on farms, pastures and in fields. However, old man's beard's geographic distribution is limited to the southwestern US and northern Mexico; it should not be confused with its Eurasian cousin, Clematis vitalba, that has much more invasive potential and is considered a noxious weed in North America and Australasia.