Rockspirea occurs in all stages of succession as long as the canopy is open or only partially closed. It grows on both seral shrubfields and in climax forest habitat types. In successional stages of the rockspirea phase of white fir/Gambel oak habitat types on the Lincoln National Forest, rockspirea and other shrubs dominate for "a few years" after stand-replacement fire. Native Americans of the Great Basin ate the seeds, and pioneers made nails from the wood. The Navajo used a decoction of the leaves to treat influenza. The Tewa ate the fruits...Because they retain heat and snow melts off from them early, conifer/rockspirea scree habitat types of Arizona and New Mexico are important sites for groundwater recharge.