Heterotheca villosa var. villosa is the typical variety of the species and has more-hairy, less glandular leaves. It occurs at both diploid and tetraploid levels.  It occurs across the northern Great Plains into the Rocky Mts. to British Columbia, Washington, and northern Oregon.  In the northeastern part of the range it can be similar to var. ballardii.

Heterotheca villosa var villosa Fig 41 Semple 1996