It is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known only from the Kalalau Valley on the island of Kauai.

It was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 2010.

[4] This shrub grows on very steep basalt cliffs on the slopes of the Kalalau Valley of Kauai.

Other plants in the habitat include Gouania meyenii, Peucedanum sandwicense, Poa mannii, Hedyotis sp., Lysimachia glutinosa, Melicope pallida, Dubautia sp., Dryopteris unidentata, Metrosideros polymorpha, Coprosma sp., Vaccinium sp., Lipochaeta sp., Wilkesia sp., Lobelia niihauensis, Lepidium serra, Nestegis sandwicensis, and Hibiscus kokio.

Because there are only a few plants of this species, it could face extinction in any one major event, such as a hurricane.