Fouquieria splendens Engelm.

Taxon and Habitat

Botanical characteristics: Fouquieria splendens Engelm. (ocotillo) grows in dry, generally rocky desert soils.

Maturity and Height

Ocotillo reaches maturity between 60 and 100 years of age, and grows to a maximum height of 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 m).

Branch Structure

It forms a clump of 40–75 straight, slender greenish branches covered with thorns; each stem may reach a diameter of 6 cm at its base.

Bark and Leaf Morphology

The branches have rough bark, and produce small, ovate leaves 2–4 cm long directly from their sides.

Leaf Growth Response

After rainfall, the plant quickly grows lush with new leaves, which may remain for weeks or even months.

Cultivated Branch Development

Cultivated specimens may not develop any secondary branches.

Spine and Leaf Regrowth

Leaf stalks harden into blunt spines, and new leaves sprout from the base of each spine.

Flowering Timing and Arrangement

Bright crimson flowers grow on mature plants especially after rainfall in spring, summer, and occasionally fall; they are clustered indeterminately at the tips of each stem.

Flower Morphology and Pollination

Individual flowers are mildly zygomorphic, and are pollinated by hummingbirds and native carpenter bees.

Flower Longevity

The flowers last between one and a half to 2 months.

Planting Timing

Cultivation: Ocotillo can be planted year-round with proper care.

Ideal Cultivation Stock

Ideal cultivated plants are grown in pots from stem cuttings and from seed.

Bare-Root Transplant Success

Transplanting large bare-root plants has only marginal success.

Transplanting Depth and Orientation

Plants should be planted at the same depth they originally grew at, and like cacti, placed in their original directional orientation: the original south side of the plant, which has developed greater resistance to heat and sunlight, should again face the brighter, hotter southern direction.

Unmarked Transplant Risk

If the original direction is not marked, transplant success is limited.

Fencing Use

Uses: In ocotillo's native region, individual stems are sometimes used as poles for fencing material, and often take root to form a living fence.

Cane and Walking Stick Use

Due to their light weight and interesting pattern, ocotillo branches have been used for canes or walking sticks.

Edible Flower Use

Fresh flowers are sometimes used in salads and have a tangy flavor.

Tisane Flower Use

Flowers are collected and dried for use in tisanes.

Tincture Preparation

According to Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West, a 1989 book published by Museum of New Mexico Press, a fresh bark tincture can be made by chopping or snipping freshly removed bark into 1/2-inch pieces.

Tincture Fluid Congestion Use

This tincture is said to be useful for symptoms arising from fluid congestion, and to be absorbed from the intestines into the mesenteric lymph system via the lacteals of the small intestinal lining.

Tincture Lymph and Fat Absorption Use

It is believed to stimulate better visceral lymph drainage into the thoracic duct and improve dietary fat absorption into the lymph system.

Fatigue Relief Bath Use

Bathing in water infused with crushed flowers or roots has been used to relieve fatigue.

Wound Treatment Use

Native Americans place ocotillo flowers and roots over fresh wounds to slow bleeding.

Additional Medicinal Uses

Ocotillo is also used to alleviate coughing, achy limbs, varicose veins, urinary tract infections, cervical varicosities, and benign prostate growths.