[3] Together with Alstonia costata, Pterophylla parviflora is a predominant tree of the islands' cloud forests, which grow on the wetter eastern (windward) slopes of the larger islands between 400 and 1000 meters elevation.

[4] On Tahiti it is the most common tree in primary montane forest above 400 meters elevation.

Other associated trees include species of Alphitonia, Dodonaea, and Psidium at middle elevations, and Myrsine, Coprosma, Cyathea, Vaccinium, Alyxia, Polyscias, and Ilex at higher elevations.

It also grows in scrub and slopes covered by the fern Dicranopteris linearis.

[3] On Huahine it grows in montane forest on the island's central crest between Mount Matoereere and Mount Turi, from 450 meters elevation to the island's summit at 670 m. These forests are dominated by Metrosideros collina and Macaranga sp., with Alstonia and Myrsine.