Within the UAE, the species is considered to occur in scattered locations (MEW 2010). RBGE herbarium hold records from two localities (north of Al Ain, Dubai Emirate and from Al Buraidah, Sharjah Emirate), and Fawzi and Ksiksi (2012) recorded the species from Jebel Hafeet. Globally, the native range of this species spans across Africa, Europe, temperate Asia and tropical Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

In the past, there has been confusion as to whether this species concept should also include individuals previously listed under Heliotropium kotschyi, in addition to unclear differences between the two potential species (Brown et al. 2007). In agreement with G.R. Feulner (pers. comm. 2019), here, we treat H. bacciferum as a distinct species. This species is described as occurring in the Ru'us al-Jibal, Al Ain region and offshore islands (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011, Sakkir et al. 2017, D. Aplin pers. comm. 2019). Feulner (2011) refers to H. bacciferum as the 'montane' species when compared to H. kotschyi, however there is agreement that both species may be found along the coast. H. bacciferum has also been recorded from Al Hamriyah (Sharjah Seedbank & Herbarium; S. Gairola pers. comm. 2019). The global range of this species spans from northwest and northeast Africa to India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

The species is widespread in the lower central Hajar Mountains and adjacent plains (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Karim and Dakheel (2006) reported the species from Sharjah, Ajman, Jebel Ali, Madam and Al Ain. Feulner (2011) found the species in the Ru'us al-Jibal to at least 1,250 m asl. The native range is across North Africa, through the Arabian Peninsula, to northwest India and Central Asia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it has been recorded in the northeast of the country, close to the Hajar Mountain range (Jongbloed et al. 2003). MEW (2010) considered the species to be common at lower altitudes in the Hajar Mountains, and present on Jebel Hafeet and Jebel Masafi; G.R. Feulner (in litt., MEW 2010) adds presence in the Ru'us al-Jibal. This genus is not well studied in the UAE and, therefore, misidentification is likely. Globally, the native range of this species spans from the eastern Mediterranean to Afghanistan (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is common and widespread in the eastern Emirates, in addition to the north-east and the far west of Abu Dhabi Emirate: Al Sila'a (Karim and Dakheel 2006) and Feulner (2011), who found the species in an area of the Sabkha Matti in western Abu Dhabi that had received recent rainfall. It is also known from the Ru'us al-Jibal (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Feulner (2011) also recorded this species from the south-west of the Ru'us al-Jibal, but notes that it may be a misidentification of A. decumbens. It is also recorded from Wadi Wurayah (Feulner 2016). The global native range of the species is from northern Nigeria to Tibet (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, it has been recorded within the Ru'us al-Jibal (MEW 2010, Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species encompasses northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, in addition to from south-eastern European Russia to Mongolia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species occurs along the Arabian Gulf Coast in addition to some inland areas near to Al Ain and Jebel Hafeet (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is also reported from some of Abu Dhabi's offshore islands (Sakkir et al. 2017). Globally, this species ranges from the Canary Islands, to the Mediterranean, Mauritania and Inner Mongolia (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

This species is found throughout the UAE (MEW 2010), having been described as widespread in the Hajar Mountains, urban areas and also on some offshore islands (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Feulner 2011, El-Keblawy et al. 2016). It has been recorded at altitudes of up to c. 600 m (and exceptionally, in some cases, up to c. 1100 m altitude) (Feulner 2011). It is also present in Ru'us al-Jibal and Jebel Quitab (Feulner 2011, 2014). Its native range is from southern Spain, through to northern Africa and India (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is described as widespread within the Hajar Moutains and East coast plantations (Jongbloed et al. 2003). Globally, this species occurs from Cape Verde to tropical and southern Africa, in addition to the Arabian Peninsula and from the Indian subcontinent to China (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).

Within the UAE, this species is particularly widespread and can be found throughout much of the country (Jongbloed et al. 2003). In the Ru'us al-Jibal, it has been recorded from altitudes up to 1,600 m (Feulner 2011). Globally, the native range of this species spans from Macaronesia, the Mediterranean and to Pakistan and the Sahara, but it has been very widely introduced elsewhere (Board of Trustees, RBG Kew 2019).