Ocotillo

Water:

April-September: 1 x every 2 weeks*

October-March: 1x per month *

*This is only for a sunny location

Light: sunny

Nutrition: 1x per month (May-September)

The Fouquieria splendens is a unique plant found in the wild in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Its range extends through southern California and southwestern Arizona, Texas, and Mexico in the states of Zacatecas and Hidalgo. In many areas, the plant grows on mountains overlooking the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert, usually in small colonies or as single plants.

The Fouquieria splendens grows on dry, rocky hills, slopes, plains, and washes. The plant primarily occurs on soils rich in limestone, well-aerated, and likely also relatively warm. In the drier and lower parts of its range, the soil is more sandy and loose.

The Fouquieria splendens is an odd, slender, cactus-like, spiny shrub or small tree, 2.5 to 6, sometimes up to 10 meters tall, with sparsely branched or unbranched stems. The plant branches abundantly from the base in a typical candelabra shape, making it very characteristic. The trunk is stout, swollen, and caudex-like with rough and cracked bark. What makes this plant special is that it sheds its leaves and flowers during periods of drought. However, the plant can continue to grow because the chlorophyll in its bark allows for photosynthesis without leaves.

The Fouquieria splendens primarily blooms after rainfall in spring, summer, and occasionally in autumn. The flowers are orange-red to red in color.

A: Fouquieria B: NL-765431734 C: D: NL