Vomitbush: A Rare Native Arizona Shrub Worth Knowing About
If you’ve never heard of vomitbush (Atamisquea emarginata), you’re not alone. This native Arizona shrub is one of those mysterious plants that botanists know exists but gardeners rarely encounter. Despite its rather unfortunate common name, this perennial shrub represents an interesting piece of our native flora puzzle.
What Is Vomitbush?
Vomitbush is a native perennial shrub that belongs to Arizona’s natural landscape. Like many native shrubs, it’s a multi-stemmed woody plant that typically grows to less than 13-16 feet in height, though most specimens stay much smaller. This makes it a manageable size for residential landscapes, assuming you can actually find one to plant!
Where Does It Grow?
This native species calls Arizona home, making it part of the state’s unique desert flora. As a plant native to the lower 48 states, it has evolved to thrive in the challenging conditions of the American Southwest.
The Challenge: Information Scarcity
Here’s where things get tricky for gardeners interested in native plants. Vomitbush appears to be quite rare, with very limited information available about its cultivation, growing requirements, or even its appearance. This scarcity of information suggests it may be:
- Extremely rare in the wild
- Difficult to propagate or grow in cultivation
- Limited to very specific growing conditions
- Simply overlooked by the gardening and landscaping community
Should You Try to Grow It?
The honest answer is: probably not, unless you’re an experienced native plant enthusiast or botanical researcher. The lack of available growing information makes this plant a poor choice for most gardeners. However, if you’re determined to work with rare native Arizona plants, here’s what you should know:
- Source any plants or seeds responsibly from reputable native plant specialists
- Assume it prefers desert or arid growing conditions typical of Arizona
- Expect it to need excellent drainage and minimal water once established
- Plan for full sun exposure
Better Native Arizona Alternatives
If you’re looking to create a native Arizona landscape, consider these better-documented alternatives:
- Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)
- Palo Verde (Parkinsonia florida)
- Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides)
- Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa)
The Bottom Line
While vomitbush represents an interesting piece of Arizona’s native plant heritage, the lack of cultivation information makes it impractical for most gardeners. If you encounter this plant in the wild, appreciate it for the rare native species it appears to be. For your garden, stick with well-documented native alternatives that will give you better results and support local wildlife with known benefits.
Sometimes the most responsible approach to rare native plants is simply to admire them in their natural habitat and choose better-understood species for our gardens.
