Fouquieria splendens
ocotillo
southwestern US and northern Mexico deserts
Overview
Fouquieria splendens is a desert shrub in the ocotillo family, made up of many slender, spiny, mostly unbranched canes 10-20 feet (3-6 m) long that fan out from a short basal trunk. The grey, woody canes are lined with stout spines and stay leafless for much of the year. After rain, small oval leaves 0.5-1 inch (1-2.5 cm) long flush quickly along the stems and drop again as the soil dries, a cycle that may repeat several times a year. In spring, usually March to June, each cane tip bears a dense cluster of tubular red to orange-red flowers 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) long. The flowers draw hummingbirds and carpenter bees. Plants grow slowly and can live for more than a century in the wild. They need sharp drainage and full desert sun, and rot in heavy or wet soil. The canes stay leafless and grey through long dry spells, greening only after rain. Established plants withstand extreme heat and prolonged drought but are damaged by hard frost below about 10 F (-12 C). Newly transplanted ocotillos can take a year or more to root.
Native Range
Fouquieria splendens is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, including the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. It grows on rocky slopes, bajadas, and well-drained desert flats below about 5,000 feet (1,500 m).Suggested Uses
Grown as a living fence, specimen, and structural accent in desert and xeriscape gardens, spaced 8-12 feet (2.4-3.7 m) apart. Cut canes are sometimes set in the ground to root as a thorny barrier. The spring flowers serve as a nectar source for hummingbirds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 20'
Width/Spread10' - 15'
Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years
Bloom Information
Tubular red to orange-red flowers open at the cane tips from March through June, with timing tied to spring rains. Clusters last several weeks and draw hummingbirds. A second, lighter bloom can follow summer rains.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
red to orange-redFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 8-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in full sun and fast-draining, rocky or sandy desert soil, and rot in heavy or consistently moist ground. Established ocotillos need very little water and withstand extreme heat and drought. Newly planted canes may stay dormant and leafless for a year while roots form, and excess water during this time causes rot. Growth is slow, often only a few inches a year. Hardiness extends to about 10 F (-12 C), with damage below that. No feeding or routine care is needed once established.Pruning
Ocotillo needs little pruning beyond removing dead or damaged canes at the base. Cuts made in the dry season limit the risk of rot. The natural fan of canes is left intact rather than shaped.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer