It is endemic to Putnam County, Florida, where it is known from about 8 populations on Etoniah Creek State Forest containing fewer than 1000 total individuals.

It is found alongside sand pines (Pinus clausa), scrub palmetto (Sabal etonia), oaks (Quercus spp.

[4] It is part of the vegetation that is home to the federally threatened Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coeleruscens).

[7] As do many other Florida scrub plant species, this shrub suffers from lack of the habitat's natural fire regime.

When fires are prevented in the habitat, it eventually becomes overgrown with brush and tall, woody vegetation that shades out the smaller plants.