Redbay prefers rich, moist soils along streams and swamp borders - in association with both conifers and hardwoods such as sweetbay, swamp tupelo, pond pine, bald cypress, red maple, sweetgum, and loblollybay.

However, it occasionally appears on dry, sandy soils - in association with longleaf pine. It is found on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains from Delaware to eastern Texas, north through Louisiana to southern Arkansas, and also in southern Florida.