The arboretum lies in the transition zone from the submontane to montane zones, its elevation ranging from 305 to 448 metres above sea level.
It is native to Cameroon (Enyandong, Mt Kupe and the Bakossi Mountains), and Nigeria, where it is found growing habitually in submontane and montane, tropical or subtropical, moist forest, at elevations roughly between 800 and 2,050 meters.
In June 1996, however, it was for the first time found outside of Gabon, growing on the submontane slopes of Mt. Kupe, in Cameroon.
Surrounding vegetation is submontane, and companion plants include Selaginella lepidophylla, Notholaena sp.