Because of these rhizomes, the species often reproduces clonally with as a consequence that many seemingly individual plants occur together.

This species is easily confused with the more rare Vangueria thamnus, which is identical except for the absence of an indumentum.

It is also similar to and occurs together with Pygmaeothamnus zeyheri, but this species has glabrous, shiny leaves that are organized in whorls of 3 or 4.

The species is found in Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The species is known to harbour endophytic Burkholderia bacteria and is known to cause gousiekte, a cardiotoxicosis of ruminants characterised by heart failure four to eight weeks after ingestion of certain rubiaceous plants.