Native to South Africa, it is a herbaceous species with a tree-like form, perennial, multi-trunked, slow-growing, long-lived, and resilient.

It can reach 10m in height.

They tolerate mild and sporadic frosts, with a temperature range from 0ºC to 30ºC.

They require moderate watering without waterlogging.

Thick roots (rhizomes) help them store nutrients, allowing them to tolerate periods of drought.

Its flowers are large, white and blue, and appear close to the main stem, more commonly in summer, although they can bloom at any time of the year if conditions are optimal.

Its fruit is a woody capsule containing seeds surrounded by an orange aril, produced several months after flowering.