Fouquieria splendens Engelm.

Ocotillo, coachwhip, Jacob’s staff, vine cactus

Ocotillos spend much of their time looking like giant dead rosebushes, but they’re just biding their time. Given some moisture, they sprout large numbers of tiny leaves and beautiful stark red flowers. They are native to the Mojave and Colorado deserts, the southwestern US, Baja California, and Sonora Mexico, at elevations below 5000′ (1.5 km).

Ocotillos have near doppelgängers called Madagascar ocotillo. These closely similar plants are an example of convergent evolution, where unrelated plants sometimes evolve to fill identical ecological niches in different locations. But you won’t confuse them, since, as you have probably guessed, Madagascar ocotillo grows only in Madagascar.

Plants: Ocotillo (pronounced awk-oh-TEE-oh) is a collection of tall, thin, unbranched stalks up to 20′ (6.1 m) high, facing mostly upward but sometimes looking bowed as if bowing to the wind. Ocotillo’s size and shape is unmistakable. It is found in association with mesquite, creosotebush, paloverde, and ceniza.

Leaves: The branches have thorns about ½–1″ (1.3–2.5 cm) long, and after rainfall, have tiny ovate leaves, ¾–1½″ (2–4 cm) in size. Stems are also photosynthetic, so leaves can be dropped when it is very hot and dry.

Flowers: Tubular crimson flowers, in clusters about 10″ (25 cm) long, are most likely to appear after rainfall.

Fruits: Capsules that contain numerous, winged seeds.

Habitats: Rocky slopes, mesas, washes and desert grasslands, at elevations up to 1.3 mi (2 km).

Online References:

Older scientific or horticultural names

Fouquieria splendens description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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