This species is found in separated patches of montane forest and cloud forests on islands of the Greater Antilles. This vegetation is found on ridge tops and extends to lower elevations in the Antilles than in continental areas because of the relative compression of elevational vegetation zones on islands and the masserhebung effect of winds passing over ridgtops (Grubb, Natur 229: 44-45, 1971). Palicourea alpina apparently has isomorphic rather than distylous flowers, perhaps because of its distribution in somewhat isolated populations. This species is similar to Palicourea eriantha of Hispaniola, which differs in its blue to purple flowers. Palicourea alpina is similar to and probably a closely related vicariant of Palicourea padifolia of Mexico and Central America and Palicourea thyrsiflora of the Andes.