Bellyache bush is well adapted to a range of soil types. It grows readily on pindan and black soils and on the edges of salt marshes. A 1.5 metre tall plant can produce over fifty seed pods a month. Each pod contain three or four seeds. Seeds germinate and growth occurs at any time when moisture is sufficient.
Plants normally start to flower about two years of age.
Seed dispersal is particularly effective down watercourses. Other means of spread include vehicles, machinery, stock and birdlife. Bellyache bush is a particularly resilient, long lived plant, able to survive extended periods without rain. Leaves are often dropped in dry conditions to conserve moisture. Evidence of this is the persistence of infestations around abandoned gardens and communities.