Hong Kong Witch-hazel was first discovered on Hong Kong Island and is endemic to China, belonging to an endemic monotypic genus. Due to its narrow natural distribution and extremely small wild population (as they are only found sparsely in South China), it is under Class II in the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants in China and is included in the China Plant Red Data Book. In the Red List of China's Biodiversity issued in 2020, it is classified as vulnerable.

Furthermore, as one of the rare and precious plants in Hong Kong, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department conducts conservation through ex-situ conservation and seed propagation. As a result, this rare species can also be appreciated at the park.