It is a small tree, growing up to 8 meters tall.

At high elevations it is the dominant canopy tree in Ilex socorroensis forest.

[1] Other forest canopy trees include Guettarda insularis, Sideroxylon socorrense, and Psidium oligospermum.

[2] At middle elevations it grows in dry forest and shrubland.

It is threatened by habitat loss, mostly from overgrazing by introduced sheep, cattle, and goats, which destroys native vegetation and accelerates soil erosion.