It is native to South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina), can reach up to 25m in height, grows quickly, and is dioecious.

It can withstand a minimum of -8ºC, but it is a plant suited for warm climates up to 35ºC.

It requires generous watering in the summer and moderate watering in the winter.

It blooms in the summer, between May and September, with branched inflorescences up to 2m long.

Its fruit matures at the end of summer or the beginning of autumn; if conditions are optimal, it can produce twice in a year, miniature coconuts, which are toxic when green but can be consumed when ripe and have a taste similar to coconut.