Abundance of seedlings of functional groups (woody plants, grasses, and forbs) was measured monthly for 2 years under 10 replicates of three nurse plants (Caesalpinia mexicana, Cordia boissieri, and Ebenopsis ebano) at 90, 350, 540, and 670 m above sea level in northeastern Mexico. Across elevations, there were more forbs than grasses and more grasses than woody plants. Grasses and forbs were denser in spring, summer, and autumn than in winter; greatest abundance of seedlings from woody plants occurred during summer and autumn. Abundance of seedlings across elevations was greater under E. ebano and C. boissieri than under C. mexicana. For all species and for functional groups separately, abundance of seedlings was greater at higher elevations than at lower elevations.