While Boxelder grows in a wide range of habitats, it is commonly found in moist ground. Native people found it particularly versatile for everyday and ceremonial use. Its smooth and soft wood was used to make bowls, drums, and incense, while sap was turned into candy, and bark was used to wash wounds. Contradictory to their name, boxelders lead short lives. During springtime, their green flowers appear only briefly, making way for samaras, eager to plant seeds for new growth.