The phenology of vegetative and reproductive patterns, shoot growth, and the physiological and anatomical plasticity of leaves of ciruela mexicana (Spondias purpurea L.) exposed to different ranges of light are described. Flower and fruit production occur during the dry season. Shoot elongation occurs during late spring and summer. Growth rates of S. purpurea are similar to the rates reported for fast growing plants, when growing on rocky slopes in shallow infertile soils. Leaves exposed to the highest photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) had a thicker mesophyll than leaves that developed under the shade. Midday depression of photosynthesis was observed for S. purpurea. The reduction in the rates of net CO₂ uptake was related to high temperatures, high PPF, and increased leaf starch content. Plasticity in physiological and anatomical traits as observed in S. purpurea may be advantageous in the low-resource rocky environments where it grows.