Boxelders are aggressively opportunistic and tend to shade out smaller, herbaceous flora in wetlands and other areas. Flowers bloom between March and July, depending on region. Fruits are generally borne in September or October, and are dispersed by gravity, birds, and other animals. Germination of the seeds occurs the following spring. The best natural seed beds are moist, well-drained, rich loams.
Dogwoods can reproduce vegetatively through suckers, sprouts, and root shoots.
They seem to grow best in areas of intermediate light intensity, although they can survive both in direct sunlight and as an understory plant. The seeds are usually dispersed by wind and water. Asexual reproduction can take place by suckers, sprouts, and root shoots. Saplings flourish in damp, well-lit areas. Cottonwood and willow are shade-intolerant, and do not compete well under dense forest canopies.