The distinct elliptical leaves of Trochodendroides are among the most common fossil leaves in Cretaceous and Paleogene deposits of the Northern Hemisphere. These leaves are often found alongside reproductive structures known as Jenkinsella, which may represent the fruiting body of the same plant. Although its precise affinities remain debated, Trochodendroides has been linked to either the modern wheel tree (Trochodendron) or to Cercidiphyllum, the katsura tree, both of which are relict genera with few living species today.

Trochodendroides first appears in the Early Cretaceous of Asia and North America, becoming especially widespread and abundant by the Late Cretaceous and into the Paleogene. Early representatives likely grew as small trees or shrubs in the shaded understory of conifer-dominated forests. As angiosperms expanded across mid- to high-latitude regions, Trochodendroides became a prominent component of temperate forest ecosystems, particularly in humid, mesic environments.