It occurs in scattered populations from western Montana to central Texas in the United States and south to Coahuila in northern Mexico.

It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 10–15 metres (33–49 feet) tall and a trunk of 20–35 centimetres (8–14 inches) diameter.

The bark is dark brown to gray, with narrow fissures and flat ridges creating plate-like scales; it is thin and easily damaged.

It prefers sheltered canyons, valleys, and the banks of mountain streams, primarily at higher elevations but occasionally at lower elevations in disjunct locales such as the southern edge of the Edwards Plateau in Texas and in the Wichita Mountains of southwestern Oklahoma.

It is occasionally planted as an ornamental tree, valued for its drought tolerance and ability to grow in rocky landscapes.