In the United States it is considered to be native to Texas, but it also grows in Florida, where it may or may not be native. It was first reported in Louisiana in 2011 when it was discovered sprouting in a vacant lot in Shreveport. It is naturalized in several African countries, such as Senegal, Zambia, and South Africa, as well as Pacific Islands such as New Caledonia and Hawaii, plus Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and Australia. It is considered to be a weed in many places. Prostrate bundleflower is palatable to livestock and non-toxic, and it contains ample protein. It has been found to put weight on cows. While it makes a good food plant for cattle, it is not as promising a feed for pigs. The plant appears to help control erosion and fixes nitrogen, improving the soil. It may be cut for fodder or grown in a field, as it is very tolerant of grazing. The action of grazing animals actually stimulates the plant and more seedlings survive under the pressure of grazing. Livestock, such as sheep, help disperse the plant's seeds throughout the rangeland, as they survive passage through the gut. Several cultivars have been commercially released, including 'Marc' and 'Balli Germplasm'. "D. virgata" is sometimes considered to be a species complex that includes "Desmanthus acuminatus", "D. paspalaceus", and "D. tatuhyensis". Until recently, many authors grouped several other "Desmanthus" under the circumscription of "D. virgata", including "D. pubescens", "D. pernambucanus", "D. glandulosus" and "D. leptophyllus".