The flowers are extra nectar-rich and attract a load of butterflies, bees, and more. Butterfly larval food plant for the Mexican yellow (Eurema mexicana), the Mimosa Yellow butterfly (Eurema nise), the Reakirt’s blue (Echinargus isola), and the marine blue (Leptotes marina). Moth larval food plant for Hubbard’s small silkmoth (Sphingicampa hubbardi), Tricolor buckmoth (Hemileuca tricolor), Black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata), Owlet moths (family Noctuidae), Mesquite stinger flannel moth (Norape tenera), Naval orange worm moth (Amyelois transitella), and the Merry melipotis moth (Melipotis jucunda).

Formerly known as Acacia wrightii. Acacia is from Greek akakie taken from ake or akis, -a sharp point. The genus Senegalia is a derivation of Senegal in Africa. There are 226 species of Senegalia. Senegalia can be distinguished from other acacias by its spicate inflorescences and non-spinescent stipules. Plants in the genus are native to the tropical and subtropical areas of the world, occurring on the Australian, Asian, African and South and North American continents, as well as in Wallacea. The species name, wrightii, honors American botanist Charles Wright (1811–1885).

Mostly in Texas and adjacent Mexico, with a few disjunct populations in Arizona, near streams and river banks, canyons, chaparral & brush country, canyons, and open woodlands on dry, rocky, open sites.