It is endemic to Mexico, where it occurs in scattered locations in the Sierra Madre Occidental of southeastern Sonora, southwestern Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and northwestern Durango.

The fruit sets by March or April the following year, and falls to the ground where it can germinate with the summer monsoon.

[3] It grows in cool sheltered canyons with year-round moisture in the Sierra Madre Occidental pine–oak forests ecoregion.

It is frequently a canopy tree within riparian oak woodland, accompanied by other broadleaved species of Clethra, Ficus, Oreopanax, Quercus, and Platanus.

[3] The bright red seeds remain attached to the fruits as they fall to the ground, and are relished by native birds including the crested guan (Penelope purpurascens), hooded grosbeak (Hesperiphona abeillei), masked tityra (Tityra semifasciata), rufous-bellied chachalaca (Ortalis wagleri), and jays.