Spermacoce alata is a very common weed of lawns. It is widespread across the warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere and naturalized in many other parts of the world. Spermacoce alata prefers humid tropical climates with sandy soils. It can be found along steep riverbanks, fields, roadsides, and other disturbed areas. S. alata can be a weed of crops such as sugarcane, soybeans, and rubber. It can grow from seed or vegetative fragments.