Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens · Fouquieriaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Height
- 10-20 ft
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May, Jun
- Habitat
- Desert
🌿 California native
Quick facts
- Habitat: Desert bajadas, rocky slopes, and wash margins
- Form / size: Spiny wand-like shrub, usually 10-20 ft
- Sun: Full sun · Water: Very low
- Blooms: Spring, often after rain · Pollinator value: High
Description
A striking desert shrub made of many upright, thorny canes that leaf out quickly after rain and then drop their leaves again in dry weather. In bloom, the cane tips carry bright red tubular flower clusters that light up rocky slopes from a distance.
Wildlife & pollinators
Excellent hummingbird plant. Bees and other pollinators also use the flowers heavily during spring bloom flushes.
Habitat & range
Dry rocky places in the Sonoran and Colorado Desert portions of Southern California, especially bajadas, desert slopes, and wash edges.
In the garden
Best in true desert gardens with heat, sun, and sharp drainage. It wants open space and does poorly with frequent irrigation or rich soil.
Propagation
Usually from seed or nursery-grown plants. Large canes can sometimes root as cuttings in hot desert conditions, but establishment is variable.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed in Southern California
- Rocky desert slopes, bajadas, and dry wash margins.
Problems
Mainly a drainage issue in cultivation. Too much water or heavy soil can rot roots and shorten its life.
Sources
Commonly confused with
Desert Agave 🌿 Agave deserti agave forms a basal rosette; ocotillo is a many-stemmed shrub with tall whiplike canes. 
