Sometimes called “drooping leucothoe” or “fetterbush,” is one of the most common shrubs in the Southern mountains, especially in the Blue Ridge portions of North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia. Highland doghobble flourishes in the shade in acidic soils alongside streams and on mountainsides in higher elevations. Its long arching branches often cover entire slopes in association with rosebay rhododendron and mountain laurel.

The arching branches are doghobble’s primary claim to fame. These often root at their tips, creating an extensive tangle that can be all but impenetrable. A black bear fleeing hunting dogs will intuitively head for a doghobble tangle situated on a steep slope, where it can easily be bound, severely impeded by the rooted branches and sharp leaves.