It is native to southwestern Asia, in the historical region of Balochistan, from the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula east through Iran and Afghanistan to Pakistan, growing at altitudes of up to 1,600 m.[1][2][3] It is a shrub-like clumping palm, with several stems growing from a single base.

The stems grow slowly and often tightly together, reaching 1–2 m (3–7 ft) or more tall.

It is a fan palm (Arecaceae tribe Corypheae), with the leaves with a long, smooth (unspined) petiole terminating in a rounded fan of 20–30 leaflets, 30–12 cm (12–5 in) long, with a distinct glaucous blue-green to grey-green colour.

The individual stems are monocarpic, dying back to the ground after flowering, with the plant continuing growth from basal sprouts.

It is one of the hardier palms, tolerating winter frosts down to about −12 °C (10 °F) (possibly even −20 °C or −4 °F), though it requires very hot summers for good growth.