Tree · Sonoran native
Arizona Rosewood
Vauquelinia californica · Rosaceae
Also called: Torrey Vauquelinia
Arizona Rosewood (Vauquelinia californica) is a low-water tree native to the Sonoran Desert region well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Arizona Rosewood at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade; tolerates reflected heat.
- Mature size
- 10-20 ft H x 10-15 ft W (large shrub to small tree; can be trained single- or multi-trunk).
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate.
- Bloom
- Creamy white to off-white flower clusters., Late spring to early summer (May-June), followed by woody seed capsules that persist.
- Cold hardiness
- Cold hardy to about 5-10 F; USDA zones 8-11. Reliably hardy in Tucson.
- Soil
- Adaptable; prefers well-drained rocky or sandy soils. Tolerates alkaline native desert soils. Avoid soggy, poorly drained sites.
- Native range
- Sonoran Desert mountains and upland chaparral of central and southern Arizona, southeastern California, and northern Mexico (Sonora, Baja California).
- Best used as
- Evergreen screen/hedge, Small patio or specimen tree, Buffer/windbreak, Native and xeriscape gardens, Reflected-heat areas
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and other pollinators; provides evergreen cover and nesting sites for birds. Moderate wildlife value.
- Toxicity
- No significant toxicity reported.
How to grow Arizona Rosewood in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Drought tolerant once established; deep watering every 2-3 weeks in summer keeps foliage dense and green. Reduce in winter. Survives on minimal supplemental water once mature.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Little to no fertilizer needed; a light spring feeding can encourage denser growth on young plants. Generally low-nutrient demand.
Pruning & care
Evergreen; can be left natural as a screen or limbed up into a small multi-trunk patio tree. Prune in late winter to early spring; tolerates shearing but looks best informally shaped. Slow regrowth means prune conservatively.
Notes
Handsome evergreen with leathery, dark-green willow-like leaves (reddish 'rosewood' new growth and stems). Tough, clean, and well-behaved; one of the best native evergreens for low-water Tucson landscapes. Often used where a non-thorny evergreen screen is needed.
Sources: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; AMWUA Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert; Tohono Chul Park