It is a tropical subshrub or shrub native to the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, central and southern China, Malesia, New Guinea, and Queensland.

In the Philippines, where it is known as lagikway among other names, the leaves are commonly incorporated into various dishes such as tinola, sinigang, pinangat, or used in salads.

In Japan, it is known as tororo aoi and is utilized to produce neri, a starchy substance used in traditional Japanese papermaking (washi).

Similarly, in Korea it is referred to as hwang chok kyu and plays a role in making dak pul, an ingredient used in the production of hanji, Korean paper.

[citation needed] A chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis published in China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica revealed the presence of thirteen compounds in aibika.