Stenogyne microphylla is a climbing stenogyne that grows abundantly within the mamane trees on the upper slopes of Mauna Kea. It can grow in a large tangled mass on tree or ground, but the individual leaves and flowers are sometimes really tiny. On Mauna Kea it may hybridize with stenogyne rugosa. Stenogyne microphylla is also found in similar habitats on other mountains of Hawai'i and Maui.