This species is almost endemic to Florida.  Its range overlaps into southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama. The range includes all of Florida though it is  only going to occur where soil, drainage, and fire conditions are appropriate.

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.

The showy part of this plant is the bracts which are pink to lavender. Flowers are actually small, whitish to yellowish, with purple spots. Wildflower. Can be used in informal gardens or as individual plants in ones with a more tended look.