The plant is native to western North America, where it occurs in northern Mexico and the
Western United States. It grows in many types of forest and shrubland habitats, and
plant communities. For example, it is characteristic of and sometimes
dominant in the
understory of
Douglas-fir,
Ponderosa pine, and
Arizona pine forests and
oak woodlands. It grows from in elevation, depending on latitude and climate. In
Colorado,
New Mexico,
Wyoming, and
Idaho it occurs in the
Rocky Mountains. It has been called "nearly ubiquitous" in many plant communities in
Utah. In
Arizona it occurs in the mountain wilderness of the
Madrean Sky Islands such as the
Chiricahua Mountains, sometimes in
scree with Douglas-fir, and is a common plant in the
Grand Canyon. In
Nevada it is a component of
quaking aspen and
willow communities and
sagebrush of the
Great Basin region. In Mexico it is native to the states of
Chihuahua and
Baja California. It is also native to northern
California and
Texas. The shrub tolerates a variety of soil types, as well as bare rock and rock fragments, such as crevices in cliffs and scree. It is
drought-tolerant and survives in dry habitat, but it thrives in more moist locations, and can be found in wetter environments than its relative,
Holodiscus discolor (creambush oceanspray). It can be found in cool, moist mountain forests in the central part of its range. It prefers sheltered locations that have less direct sunlight and wind. It anchors easily on steep slopes, and can grow on vertical topography, such as cliffs. == Uses ==