In Mexico it can be found in Sonora, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosi.

In the Mojave Desert it grows alongside plants such as winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata), Pima rhatany (Krameria erecta), spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa), Shockley goldenhead (Acamptopappus shockleyi), Frémont's dalea (Psorothamnus fremontii), spiny menodora (Menodora spinescens), and species of ephedra, prickly pear, and yucca.

In Arizona it grows in riparian habitat with sycamore (Platanus wrightii), willows (Salix spp.

), Arizona walnut (Juglans major), Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana), Arizona white oak (Quercus arizonica), and velvet ash (Fraxinus velutina).

[1] This plant is common around Anasazi ruins; they may have simply collected it and dropped the seeds, but it is possible they cultivated it.

[3] Among the Zuni people, the berries are eaten raw when perfectly ripe or boiled and sometimes sweetened.