This occurs widely in southeastern states east of the Mississippi Rv., but it is largely restricted to dry acid soils. There may be some intergradation with altissima (FNA 21), especially in regions west of the Shawnee Hills (as in Land-Between-the-Lakes). A. aromatica differs in several somewhat overlapping characters (FNA 21, W): leaf blades 2-9 x 1.5-5 cm (versus 4-18 x 2.5-12 cm), subcoriaceous (versus membranaceous) and crenate (versus coarsely dentate); petioles 1-12 mm (versus 5-50 mm); stems villous-puberulent (versus puberulent with minute crisped hairs). Inflorescences are also generally more pubescent.