Vauquelinia californica, commonly known as Arizona rosewood, is an evergreen species of shrub or tree, in the rose family, Rosaceae. The dark brown wood streaked with red, and is hard and very heavy, a beautiful 'rosewood.' It has dense white blossoms in early Spring.

Distribution

The plant is native to the Southwestern United States in Arizona and southwestern New Mexico in Madrean Sky Islands habitats, the Peninsular Ranges in Baja California and northern Baja California Sur, and Sonora in Northwestern Mexico.

Prehistoric

From pollen core data, a portion of the prehistoric distribution of Vauquelinia californica has been mapped. For example, in the Late Wisconsin period, this species occurred at lower elevations within the Waterman Mountains in southern Arizona than currently found.

Cultivation

Vauquelinia californica is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is used as a drought-tolerant shrub, hedge, or small tree. When trained as a single trunked tree, growth can be to 15 ft in height.

Ecology

Vauquelinia californica is a larval host for the two-tailed swallowtail.