Slower growing and generally smaller than live oak. Extremely drought tolerant. In environments where there is fire, this is often a small clonal shrub or cluster of small trees. Specimen tree, shade tree. Thicket in dry sandy areas.

Foliage fragrant when crushed. Bayberry is an actinorhizal plant: its roots feature nitrogen fixing nodules formed in symbiosis with the nitrogen fixing actinobacteria Frankia. Thus it is tolerant of nitrogen-poor, acidic soils such as wetlands and dunes.(Widipedia). The range is disjunct within Florida. Screen or hedge plant. Deciduous to semi-evergreen.