Georgia plume is found only in the sandy soils of a few coastal plain areas of Georgia. This extremely rare tree has showy flowers and produces viable seed, although seedlings have never been seen in the wild. This endangered shrub occurs in natural areas historically dominated by fire, but today these areas are rarely burned, which raises concern. It is believed that this interruption in the natural fir cycle could undermine the fate of this species. As part of the important conservation work of public gardens, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the State Botanic Garden of Georgia, the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University are working to conserve the few remaining wild populations and develop methods for germinating the seed.