A common medium-sized shrub with a bimodal distribution in North Carolina, occuring in wet meadows in the Mountains and pine savannas in the southern half of the Coastal Plain. Absent from most of the Piedmont.

The leaves are about 5-8 mm wide.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/06.

The growth form is very dense.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/06.

The flowers grow in clusters of seven or more per inflorescence.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/06.

Flowers have five petals and five sepals.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/06.

The bark is a smooth cinnamon brown, peeling as it grows.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/06.