[3] It is commonly found in coastal swamps and wet inland forests in low elevations.

Countries and regions in which it grows are: Colombia; Panama; Costa Rica; Venezuelan Antilles; Nicaragua; Windward Islands; Honduras; Guatemala; Mexico (Southeast, Southwest, Gulf, Central); Leeward Islands; Belize; Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti); Jamaica; Puerto Rico; Cuba; Turks-Caicos Islands; Bahamas.

[1] To grow it prefers high sunlight and rich, moist, well drained soil.

It is highly tolerant to salt, insects, fungus, wind, and air pollution.

The frame of Trelawney Planter, built in Jamaica in 1790, was constructed of bullet tree wood.