It needs two conditions to develop: abundant rain and cool summers.

In dry years the plant grows only a few centimeters long before flowering, but after abundant rain it may climb to the tops of neighboring shrubs.

Some tropical areas may receive abundant rain the whole year round, but others have long dry seasons which last several months and may vary with geographic location.

Trade winds bring abundant rains, occasionally heavy, with most of the precipitation tending to fall at night.

The highland plateaus fed by abundant rains provided safety from floods and a rich soil.