Hessel’s Hairstreak is an eastern coastal species running from the Carolinas to Maine. It can also be found on the coastal areas of west FL and AL.
It uses Atlantic White Cedar as a foodplant. It can be found close to these cedars. Partly as a result, is in not common and is very localized. It may be found low down earlier in the day and then spending time at the top of the Cedars. Typically it seems to select the tallest tree possible to ensure observers get only fleeting glimpses.