Although widespread in Africa, it reaches its southernmost limit in Mpumalanga at the Blyde River Canyon, at altitude of 1 400–1 650 m. Here the plant grows on sheer, south-facing, quartzitic, sandstone cliffs of the Black Reef Formation (Transvaal Supergroup), often among lichens and other succulent flora. Associated succulent plants in the habitat are: Aeollanthus parvifolius, Aloe spicata, Cotyledon barbeyi, Delosperma lebomboensis, Peperomia blanda and Plectranthus cylindraceus. Elswhere in tropical Africa, the plant also grows as an epiphyte on trees. In the Limpopo Province of South Africa, the plants grow on ledges, rooted in crevices. The average daily maximum temperature is about 26ºC for summer and 14ºC for winter. Precipitation is experienced mainly in summer and averages about between 1 000–1 250 mm per annum. The vegetation in the habitat consists of Mosaic of Northern Mistbelt Forest (Forest Biome) and the Sub-Escarpment Savanna Bioregion of the Savanna Biome (Mucina et al. 2005).