It is native to east Asia, where it is found in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

[2] The tree blooms from May to June,[3] and the seeds become ripe from October to December.

[6] Kurogane holly was first described in 1784 by Carl Peter Thunberg, from species growing in Japan.

In Japan, it is commonly planted garden and street tree.

[3] It was first introduced to gardens of the New World through collections sent by Robert Fortune.