Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Elbowbush is a minor component of the South Texas brush country that is fairly common in mixed-brush or open woodlands, and is usually found on dry, well-drained hillsides and arroyos or creeks in direct sun exposure.  White-tailed deer browse the foliage and the fruit is consumed by mammals such as raccoons, foxes, ringtails, rabbits and by many birds such as bobwhite and scaled quail, white-winged doves and numerous songbirds.  Elbowbush also provides canopy cover from predators.