[3] The pink ivory tree grows predominantly in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Northern Botswana and South Africa.

[2] The tree is protected and sustainably maintained in South Africa, only felled by very limited permit.

Before the Anglo-Zulu War, the Zulu king (and prior to 1818, Zulu chiefs) would possess a pink ivory Knobkerrie (a stick with a knob at one end) and also wear jewellery made from precious pink ivory wood.

The pink ivory tree produces a yellow, brownish, reddish, or purplish drupe fruit that is delicious to taste.

Pink ivory is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world, along with African blackwood, sandalwood, agarwood and ebony.