Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
Also known as Vine-cactus
Climate Match for your location
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A dramatic desert shrub with sparse, spiky branches that erupt in brilliant red tubular flowers in spring. Highly drought-tolerant and striking as a specimen plant or accent in xeriscape gardens.
Why grow it
Ocotillo offers exceptional drought tolerance and winter dormancy, making it suitable for arid and semi-arid regions where water conservation is essential. Unlike many desert ornamentals, it produces showy red flowers reliably in spring and can respond with additional blooms after summer rains, providing seasonal interest. It functions well as a vertical accent or screen in xeriscapes where fewer large specimens are preferred over dense plantings.
Watch out for
Plants take several years to establish a substantial root system and may appear dead or fail to leaf out promptly after transplanting, requiring patience during establishment. In cooler climates near the northern edge of its range, late spring freezes can damage emerging foliage before dormancy breaks, so siting away from frost pockets helps. Container-grown specimens tend to perform less predictably than in-ground plantings in their native habitat.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fouquieriaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of southwestern United States and Mexico
Native to: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A dramatic desert shrub with sparse, spiky branches that erupt in brilliant red tubular flowers in spring. Highly drought-tolerant and striking as a specimen plant or accent in xeriscape gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Ocotillo grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Ocotillo offers exceptional drought tolerance and winter dormancy, making it suitable for arid and semi-arid regions where water conservation is essential. Unlike many desert ornamentals, it produces showy red flowers reliably in spring and can respond with additional blooms after summer rains, providing seasonal interest. It functions well as a vertical accent or screen in xeriscapes where fewer large specimens are preferred over dense plantings.
Watch out for
Plants take several years to establish a substantial root system and may appear dead or fail to leaf out promptly after transplanting, requiring patience during establishment. In cooler climates near the northern edge of its range, late spring freezes can damage emerging foliage before dormancy breaks, so siting away from frost pockets helps. Container-grown specimens tend to perform less predictably than in-ground plantings in their native habitat.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fouquieriaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of southwestern United States and Mexico
Native to: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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