This introduced European moss was first discovered in North America in Vancouver by Steve Joya in 2010, and was subsequently found by him in other locations, including Stanely Park and Oak Bay on Vancouver Island (Joya and McIntosh 2012). Joya and McIntosh say: "It is highly likely that more patches of this species are extant in the northwest, especially in the Victoria area, but also in other urban areas of the Pacific Northwest."