Hardiness zones:
Sunset 10-13, 18-20
USDA 8-10 (arid zones only)

Landscape Use: Accent, focal point, barrier, silhouette, desert plantings, living fence posts, uncompromising

Form & Character: Stiff and upright, imposing, excellent xeriscape plant

Growth Habit: Moderately vigorous to 20', branches at base with individual stems extending upwards

Foliage/texture: Generally leafless except after rains. Green sessile leafs along the axillary meristems of stems quickly yellow a few weeks after desert rain events and thereafter sheds leaving green and gray striped stems with prominent thorns. In irrigated urban landscapes foliage is more persistent; coarse texture

Flowers & fruits: Two 12" terminal flower spikes per each stem bearing numerous vermilion-colored flowers; fruit insignificant

Seasonal color: Flowers from late February through March

Temperature: Well adapted to Phoenix area

Light: Full sun

Soil: Fast drained soil is best, found on rocky slopes in native habitat

Watering: Very drought tolerant. Supplemental landscape irrigation will increase growth and vigor.

Pruning: Usually none required, removal of stems to ground

Propagation: Dug and transplanted easily, cutting using large stem sections, seed

Disease and pests: Root rot if drainage is poor

Additional comments: Hummingbirds and carpenter bees are pollinators in west and east, respectively (both in Phoenix). Flower intensity and duration related to pollinator. A fresh bark tincture is rich in at least 12 iridoid glucosides that can be used to reduce swelling of hemorrhoids, cervical varicosities and benign prostate enlargement.

In addition to ocotillo, there are two other prominent species that are native to our North American deserts. Fouquieria macdougalii (Mexican ocotillo tree) is from Sonora and north Sinaloa, Mexico and is similar but much smaller to 6' in height and more cold sensitive than ocotillo. Fouquieria columnaris (syn. Idria columnaris) (boojum tree) is very slow growing odd plant that eventually reaches 50' in height. It is now protected in Mexico and is somewhat difficult to find in the United States.