It is native to the neotropics, occurring in most of Mexico, and throughout Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

[1][2] The name of the genus is derived from the Greek word chion, meaning snow.

[3] The biological type for the genus are those plants which de Candolle called Chione glabra.

venosa but per ICN, Chione glabra retains its status as type.

[5] Chione and Colleteria are the only genera in the subfamily Cinchonoideae that have not been assigned to a tribe.