It is native to the southeastern United States,[4] and it is present in other areas, including other regions of North America, as an introduced species.

It is grown as an ornamental and can escape cultivation and grow in the wild.

[5] This deciduous shrub grows to 3 meters tall, often with glandular, bristly (hispid) stems.

The pink or purplish pealike flowers are borne in hanging racemes of up to 5.

The wood was useful for making fences, bows, and blowgun darts, and for building houses.