[3] The plant is native to the Sonoran Desert region of North America, where it can be found in Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora in Mexico, with its distribution extending north into Arizona in the United States.

It is a dominant or codominant species, and one of the most abundant plants,[7] in the Arizona Upland Subdivision of the Sonoran Desert.

[4][8][9][10] Ambrosia deltoidea is a shrub growing from a taproot with many lateral and adventitious roots.

The plant produces many thin branches growing up to about half a meter tall.

[4] It also serves as nurse plant for yellow paloverde, ocotillo, and some prickly pear species.