Alphabetical Plant Listing

Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo)

Ocotillo, Devil's Walking Stick, Candlewood


A plant full of surprises, Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo) is a very distinctive, upright shrub of vase-shaped habit with up to 100 long, thorny, wand-like, gray stems that rise and radiate from the crown. Small, fleshy, rounded, bright green leaves appear in response to rains and disappear with drought. With rainfall the plant quickly becomes lush with leaves, which may remain for weeks or even months. In the spring, attractive clusters of brilliant red, tubular flowers bloom at stem tips. The blossoms may also occur after summer rains. They are happily pollinated by hummingbirds and bees. Easy to grow, Ocotillo is great as a hedge, screen, living fence.

  • Grows up to 8-20 ft. tall (240-600 cm) and 5-10 ft. wide (150-300 cm).
  • Easily grown in well-drained soils in full sun. No additional water needed once established, but to retain leaves water twice a month during the summer. Drought tolerant.
  • Great for desert gardens, Mediterranean gardens or as an impenetrable hedge.
  • Virtually disease free and pest free. Deer resistant.
  • Can be propagated by sticking cuttings in the ground.
  • Native range is from the southern tip of Nevada south through the Mohave and Sonora deserts of California to Arizona and east to the Chihuahua Desert of New Mexico and western Texas; south into Mexico to the state of Durango

Buy Fouquieria splendens (Ocotillo)

Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 11
Climate Zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents, Shrubs
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 8' – 20' (240cm – 6m)
Spread 5' – 10' (150cm – 3m)
Spacing 96" – 120" (240cm – 300cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Bees, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden

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Joshua Tree National Park, Alan Schmierer (Flickr)

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 11
Climate Zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents, Shrubs
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 8' – 20' (240cm – 6m)
Spread 5' – 10' (150cm – 3m)
Spacing 96" – 120" (240cm – 300cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, California, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought
Attracts Bees, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden

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