This small tree species is widely scattered over southeastern states, but it is most common in Atlantic states; it is rare in most of the Ohio Valley and virtually absent in the Shawnee Hills (K). Plants around Coastal Plain wetlands may be a distinct variant (W). In Ky. the species occurs mostly on or near cliffs and rocky riverbanks, usually on medium-acid well-drained soils; it is virtually unknown west of the Appalachians, except in the Knobs. Plants appear moderately to highly preferred as browse by deer and perhaps cattle (e.g. Ripley & McClure 1963, Bessinger 1973, Thill 1983). Populations are generally thin, with mature individuals often separated by 100-1000 m. Its large drupes are presumably dispersed by birds, but perhaps mammals also; some humans can eat them, especially when pickled (pfaf.org; D. Svetich, pers. comm.). Although there are a few reports of Emerald Ash Borer feeding on Chionanthus, this pest does not appear to kill plants (J. Boggs, Ohio State Univ., pers. comm.). The genus Chionanthus is relatively close in phylogeny to some evergreen species that have classified in Osmanthus sensu lato. These evergreens have been segregated into Cartrema of the southeastern USA and Mexico (but hardy in cultivation north to Ky.) and Chengiodendron of southeast China and Taiwan (Li et al. 2020).