One of the most interesting, unique and downright fascinating specimens that any desert/xeriscape landscape can have, or should I say must have, is the Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens. This super drought-tolerant southwestern native that is, without a doubt, quite striking when in full bloom. Ocotillo are very tough taking full sun and harsh desert winters with ease.
I think the first thing that one will notice about Ocotillo is the architectural beauty and simplicity that this plant has to offer. These attributes lend themselves to use Ocotillo as a specimen piece within the landscape. These plants can be set within a mix of low ground covers and colorful shrubs to create a natural, colorful and attractive display in the garden. Adding direct accent lighting to the Ocotillo makes the plant a focal point that stands out at night like no other plant that I can think of.
Ocotillo are native to virtually all of the desert southwest, from the Mojave and Colorado deserts, to the deserts of northwestern Mexico and are typically found below 5000 feet. In the high desert region of the Mojave Desert Ocotillo are not found with the same regularity as the low deserts, where they can easily grow to 20-25 feet tall and as much as 15 to 20 feet wide. In the high desert they are much smaller and routinely reach 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
Ocotillo are deciduous and come equipped with some extremely sharp spines that can easily penetrate flesh so be sure to always wear gloves when handling. This is also why it's a good idea to keep them from being too close to pathways or areas where people congregate. These sharp spines tend to make Ocotillo a great natural fence.
You are most likely to find Ocotillo at your local nursery or home improvement center in bare root form. These bare root plants usually are a hit or miss proposition because it is impossible to know when these plants were harvested. When buying bare root Ocotillo be sure to soak the plant in water for a few hours before planting to re-moisten the root junction. Bare root will usually be much larger and generally less expensive than potted plants. Once established these plants need absolutely no direct water and will survive just fine without it. In fact it is best not to provide any direct water even during the healing in process. The best thing to do is simply mist the canes with a fine spray of water from a garden sprayer. Make certain that the sprayer you use is one that hasn't been used with pesticides or herbicides.
The flowers of the Ocotillo are roughly 1 to 1 1/2 inches in length and bright orange or crimson with long stamens with creamy yellow tips. Both leaves and flowers generally appear after a good spring or summer rain. Flowers are highly prized by hummingbirds because of there nectar and are a source of great competition between individuals! Ocotillo also attract bees so definitely keep this in mind when locating the plants.
Ocotillo are a must for any desertscape. They provide great structure and awesome color. Ocotillo have great interest due to the unique architectural nature of the plant; attributes that make them great specimen plants and focal points to be highlighted by accent lighting. If you don't have any Ocotillo in your garden it's time to give one a try.
