鐵色屬常綠灌木或喬木，臺灣原生，菲律賓亦為原產地。樹皮灰白色，小枝光滑無毛。互生長橢圓形或長橢圓狀卵形葉，先端銳尖，基部鈍而歪斜，略呈鐮刀狀。雌雄異株，花叢生於葉腋，淡黃色或黃綠色。果實卵形或長橢圓狀卵形，熟時由綠轉黃再轉紅；外果皮革質，有毛茸。

An evergreen shrub or tree in the genus Drypetes, native to Taiwan and the Philippines. Bark gray and branches smooth and glabrous. Alternative leaves oval or oblong-ovate in shape, apex sharp, base obtuse and crooked, slightly sickle-shaped. Dioecious, flowers tufted in leaf axils, pale yellow or yellow-green in color. Fruit ovate or oblong-ovate, turning from green to yellow and then red when ripe; exocarp leathery and hairy.

全日照溫暖環境，耐旱、耐風、耐鹽，喜富含有機質之壤土，排水需良好。以種子繁殖為主，亦可用高壓繁殖。

The plant normally grows in warm and full sun environments, tolerant to drought, wind and salt, preferably organic-rich loam soil with good drainage. Mainly propagated from seeds, less by air layering.

可作庭園景觀樹、海岸防風定沙樹種等。熟果紅色具觀賞價值。種子可播種成小品盆栽。嫩葉是尖翅粉蝶幼蟲最喜歡的食物。熟果枝條可作插花用材。

Grown as garden ornament tree, coastal windbreak and sand-fixing trees, etc. The red ripe fruit is ornamental. The seeds can be sown in small pots. The young leaves are the favorite food of Appias albina semperi larvae. The branches bearing ripe fruits are common flower arrangement materials.