This species is endemic to Europe where it has a narrow distribution in the southwestern Alps. The extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) both fall within a threatened category under criterion B. Although only five localities are known it is inferred to occur elsewhere within this small range, such that more than five but fewer than ten locations are suspected. The presence of a competitive and potentially hybridising species, Pinguicula hirtiflora, is leading to an inferred continuing decline in the number of mature individuals. It is assessed as Vulnerable [VU B1ab(v)+2ab(v)]. Further research is needed to establish the extent of hybridisation and competition.

This species has a narrow distribution in the southwestern Alps. It occurs in France in two gorges in the eastern Alpes-Maritimes Department and in Italy it grows in western Savona Province. It grows from 150 to 1,500 m asl (Roccia et al. 2016). Records of the species from Tuscany (Romagnoli and Foggi 1991) are excluded here.

There are no accurate estimates of the number of mature individuals but it is suspected from the abundance at sites where it occurs that the population is not small.

The species grows in sheltered humid sites on wet limestone rock faces and at cliff bases in stream gorge habitats and it also occurs rarely in waterlogged pastures.

The recent introduction of a highly competitive species, Pinguicula hirtiflora, threatens this species through competition and possibly hybridisation, where the main population occurs.

This species is grown by a small number of enthusiasts of the genus, but trade is insignificant.

Most of the subpopulations of this species occur within a protected area. The species is assessed as Vulnerable in France (UICN France et al. 2018) and as Endangered in Italy (Orsenigo et al. 2021).