We have found this taxon but once near San Gerardo de Dota in the Cordillera Talamanca under Quercus seemanii. It is also known from near Pasto, Colombia in the Neotropics. The russet colored pigment sets it off from other hygrophori in Costa Rica. The association with Quercus helps separate it from conifer associated taxa such as: H. capreolarius, H. erubescens, and H. purpurascens.