This medium-sized shrub is a southeastern US Coastal Plain native commonly planted in North Carolina but very rarely escaping. It is not native to North Carolina, but one population in northwestern South Carolina may be native.

Planted specimen, Chapel Hill, NC 5/29/03.

The photos here are of a planted specimen of the 'Snow Queen' cultivar, showing the persistent bracts, long after flowering.

Chapel Hill, NC 7/17/05.