Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate infrequently to not at all, though its growth rate and ultimate size can be enhanced by supplemental irrigation and then infrequent and deep watering is best. Hardy to 10 to 15 °F and useful in USDA Zones 8-10. It required little to no maintenance, but branches can be pruned lightly to shape, but does not take to shearing. This plant is often compared to looking a bit like oleander and is similarly useful as a large screen.

Vauquelinia californica grows naturally at elevations from 2500 to 5000 feet in the Madrean (Sierra Madre Occidentale) Sky Islands habitats of Southern Arizona, New Mexico and Northwestern Mexico (Sonora) as well as in the Peninsular Ranges in Baja California and northern Baja California Sur. The genus was named after the French chemist and botanist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin and though the specific epithet has many believing this plant native to the state of California, it is not native within the boundaries of the state of California in the US and this name likely came about because it was first described from plants found near the California and Arizona border and there were isolated occurrences in Baja California in Mexico. 

The information about Vauquelinia californica that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.