Bursera arborea occurs in tropical dry forest on the Pacific coast of Mexico. A specific example ecoregion of occurrence is in the Jalisco dry forests. Typical flora associates in this ecoregion are: Glassywood (Astronium graveolens),Amapola Blanca (Bernoullia flammea), Sideroxylon cartilagineum and Calophyllum brasiliense.
Bursera arborea is a tree noted for its young shoots being exceedingly slender.
