This slow-growing plant (it can take a decade to grow 1 m) is characterized by its single stem, which is smooth in youth and becomes rough with age. The stem has no growth rings, so its age can only be estimated by the number of rows of branches, as it branches out after the first flowering, approximately every 15 years. The tree-like plant is crowned by a dense umbrella-shaped canopy with thick grayish-green to glaucous leathery leaves, 50 to 60 cm long and about 3 to 4 cm wide. It can reach more than 18 m in height. The flowers, which arise in terminal clusters, are white. The fleshy fruits, between 1 to 1.5 cm, are round and orange.