瓜栗屬常綠喬木，原產中、南美洲。樹幹通直，基部膨大，樹皮多為綠色或綠褐色，平滑，枝條多為輪生，水平伸展或斜上昇狀。互生掌狀複葉，多叢生於枝端。小葉4~8枚，長橢圓形至倒卵形，紙質。花腋生，白至淡黃色，4~11月夜間開花，僅一晚壽命。綠色蒴果長橢圓形。種子腎形，黃褐色。

An evergreen tree in the genus Pachira, native to Central and South America. Trunk straight, base swollen, bark often green or greenish-brown, smooth; branches usually whorled, extending horizontally or ascending. Leaves alternate, palmate-compound, mostly clumped at branch tips. Leaflets 4-8, oblong to obovate and papery. Flowers axillary, white to pale yellow, flowering from April to November open at night and only last for one night. Capsules green and oblong. Seeds kidney-shaped and yellow-brown.

可全日照或半日照，幼株具耐蔭性。對土壤要求不高，但以富含有機質之砂質壤土為佳，排水需良好。以種子或扦插繁殖。

The tree grows in full-sun or partial-sun conditions; saplings are tolerant to shade. It’s not picky on soils but prefers well-drained sandy loams rich in organic matter. Propagated by seeds or cuttings.

可作庭園樹、行道樹、種子小森林小品盆栽、室內大型盆栽、編幹盆栽。木材可造紙；根具黏液，可供造紙的糊料。種子可食。

They can be used as garden trees, street trees, small seedling potted plants, indoor large potted plants and trunk-braided bonsai. The wood can be used for papermaking; mucus produced by the roots can be used as a thickener for papermaking. The seeds are edible.