It is endemic to sea coasts and beaches in Maine, in the Northeastern United States and also eastern Canada.

[2][3] It was first published by the English botanist George Penny in Hort.

The Latin specific epithet hookeri refers to the English botanist William Jackson Hooker.

[4] It is found in Eastern Canada within the states of Québec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador.

[5] It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Service on 4 April 2003,[5] and as being an accepted name by the RHS.