An alternative plant might be easier to grow and source. Canby's Mountain-lover, Paxistima canbyi, is barely native within Maryland, having only been documented growing wild in Alleghany County. Since it is considered endangered in Maryland, it's not recommended to grow it in a home setting unless you have the right habitat and the source of the plant was local (provenance, or the genetic source of the plants, should be as local as possible to avoid contaminating the gene pool of local populations with out-of-area adaptations that could harm them). We are not aware of any local native plant nurseries offering this species for sale, especially with local provenance, and it would be possible they'd need a permit to do so given the plant's status in our state. Technically, Maryland law may make it illegal to cultivate plants with rare, threatened, or endangered status, though it doesn't seem that that law is strictly enforced.

Overall, the species is rare throughout its limited range, being confined to the higher-elevation regions within the Appalachian Mountains. (In the linked map, counties highlighted in yellow are the native range, and the yellow color indicates a rare status.) In horticultural reference material, it's listed as growing in USDA zones 3-7, which puts it at the edge of heat tolerance for typical Maryland conditions. Missouri Botanical Garden notes that this species is vulnerable to a fungal leaf spot (by itself, not a red flag, as many plant species contract various leaf spot infections) and, more seriously, root rot. If soils are clay-heavy, compacted, or otherwise not very well drained, the plant may succumb to root loss in damp conditions. (Their recommendations are for growing in sandy-rocky soils, as would be typical of most mountainous habitats.) Foundation plants often need to contend with compacted soil given the proximity to the house and compaction caused by home construction.

Miri

Thank you for the information! I heard about this plant and it was listed for sale on Directnativeplants.com. They are based in Middle River, MD. 

Interesting...perhaps they obtained the plants from another wholesale native plant source that collected seed from a different state, but you would have to ask. The MD Department of Natural Resources might be able to answer the question of legality regarding cultivating endangered species. An email can be sent to <personal data hidden>, or if you would like to speak to someone, they have a Wildlife and Heritage Service phone number at<personal data hidden>. (The phone line is staffed during regular business hours, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, except state holidays and weekends.) While the MD Department of Agriculture regulates plant sales in Maryland, the DNR might have authority over rare, threatened, or endangered plants. (We're not trying to get the nursery in trouble, but reaching out to either agency might clear-up any legal concerns that might relate to growing this species in home gardens.)

Miri

Okay, thanks
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