The distinctively shaped fruit of the powder-puff trees is green and attractive, he said, adding the trees usually send out a special smell, attracting bees and butterflies when in bloom. They are often mixed with mangroves, so they are called semi-mangrove.

Powder-puff trees are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia and Oceania. In China, powder-puff trees have mainly been found in Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan and Guangdong provinces and in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The species has been regarded as a treasure hidden in coastal forests.