The range of this species is primarily the coastal plain from Texas to North Carolina. A second subspecies (subsp. greenmanii) occurs in the Florida P , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Unknown , Considertions, All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested.  Bruised leaves may produce a rash on bare skin , Habitat, Marshes, wet flatwoods, wet prairies, seepage slopes, edges of cypress wetlands, ditches , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Host plant for black swallowtail. Attracts generalist pollinators.

This species and other members of the Lauraceae are being attacked by a serious, fatal disease. Do not plant this plant unless you are absolutely sure , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray wo , Considertions, Subject to laural wilt, which is spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle. Do not move dead wood. Allow sprouts from stumps to grow to supply larval food , Wildlife, Fruits eaten and dispersed by birds. , Habitat, Upland hardwood forests, dry mesic hammocks, calcareous hammocks. Sometime associated with wetlands. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval host plant for palamedes swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) and spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) butterflies. Attracts

Its acorn is large (about an inch long) and is nearly enclosed by its cup or receptacle--hence the name "overcup." Shade tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Falling/fallen acorns can be an issue. , Wildlife, Acorns appreciated by squirrels, deer, turkey, and other wildlife Used by birds for resting and nesting Said (by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlflower Cen , Habitat, Bottomland floodplains and inundated river levees, lake swamps, rarely on non-wetland portions of floodplains. , Did You Know?, Host plant for the White-M Hairstreak and Horace's Duskywing butterflies.

Wildflower garden, meadow. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Sandhills, dry flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts generalist pollinators.