Today it is known from far southern Texas and far northern sections of the Mexican states of Coahuila and Tamaulipas.

The plant's native habitat was made up of subtropical riparian woodland covered in dense thickets in the floodplains of the Rio Grande delta.

It is probably adapted to periodic flooding in the area, an event that is largely contained and prevented today.

[1][4] Only about 5% of the natural habitat, the Texas ebony-anacua (Ebenopsis ebano/Ehretia anacua) plant community, remains in this area.

[5] the rest has been fenced and fragmented by roads, canals, and ditches, plowed for agricultural use, and compacted by herds of cattle.