It is endemic to western Madagascar, found in Baie de Baly National Park, south.

[1] It occurs in the following protected areas: Amoron'i Onilahy, Baie de Baly, Menabe Antimena, Mikea, Namoroka, Ranobe PK 32, Tsimanampesotse, Tsimembo Manambolomaty, Tsinjoriake (La Table/St Augustin).

[3] This is a small to large deciduous tree 4–5 metres (13–16 ft) tall with reddish brown, peeling bark.

Leaves are present from November to April and are made up of 3-5 stalkless (sessile) leaflets with finely toothed edges (teeth about 1 millimetre (0.039 in) long).

The outer part of the perianth, the calyx, is made up of yellowish green lobes with faint reddish stripes.

This central bundle of fused filaments set above the staminal tube is an identifying feature of fony baobab.

In the very centre of the flower is an ovary, covered with dense golden hairs, with a pink 20–25 centimetres (7.9–9.8 in) long style topped by a red stigma that blackens with age.

Two large fony baobabs growing in Tsimanampetsotse National Park were studied using radiocarbon dating.

[6] One called "Grandmother" is made up of 3 fused trunks of different ages, with the oldest part of the tree an estimated 1,600 years old.