I think the eastern species is called "cliff green" or something like that. The impression I get is that it really loves well drained sites...similar to arbutus but a lot hardier. On the coast I've only seen it on the Gulf Islands and very rocky locations on the mainland where the heavy rains drain away quickly. Grows everywhere in dryer inland areas like Whistler and Fraser Canyon, with much less rain or winters that freeze more solidly. BTW, I think this is one of those natives that can be used a lot more in xeriscaping/non irrigated landscape installations...it definitely can handle the summer droughts here unlike most "boxwood-like" evergreen hedgy things. Also a dream to propagate.
