[1][2] The species was originally described by Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius in 1841.

[3] Cecropia sciadophylla is a pioneer tree in the neotropics.

The tree can grow up to 30 meters in height.

[2] It grows in well-drained areas and as a pioneer plant emerges in damaged areas.

Cecropia sciadophylla can be found from sea-level up to 1300 meters from sea-level ranging from French Guiana to Colombia.