Ocotillo
Ocotillo growing among native desert vegetation, demonstrating its role as vertical structure in the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.
Shrub
Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
- Height
- 10-20 feet
- Bloom Season
- March-June
- Growth Pattern
- Deciduous
About this plant
The ocotillo (pronounced oh-kuh-TEE-oh) is a unique desert shrub with long, spiny, wand-like stems that can reach up to 20 feet tall. After rainfall, it quickly produces small green leaves along the stems, which it sheds during dry periods. In spring, it produces clusters of bright red tubular flowers at the tips of its stems.
More infoPhoto gallery
Dry ocotillo
A leafless ocotillo during a dry period, showing the bare canes that allow it to conserve water.
Dry ocotillo
Close view of dry ocotillo stems without leaves, emphasizing the plant's dormant appearance during drought.
Ocotillo
Ocotillo growing among native desert vegetation, demonstrating its role as vertical structure in the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.
Ocotillo branches
Close view of ocotillo canes with small leaves emerging after rainfall, highlighting the plant's segmented growth pattern.
Ocotillo closeup
Detailed look at ocotillo stems and bark texture, showing how leaves sprout directly from the canes.
Ocotillo with leaves
An ocotillo fully leafed out following recent rain, giving the plant a dense, green appearance.
Wild ocotillo family
A group of ocotillo plants growing naturally across a desert landscape, illustrating their spacing and growth habit.
Quick ID Checklist
- Tall, wand-like canes that rise from the base, often with few or no leaves for much of the year
- Leaves are small and oval, and often appear only after rainfall, then drop during drought
- Bright red to orange tubular flowers cluster near the tips of canes in spring
- Plant forms an open, fountain-shaped shrub with many upright stems
- Common along rocky slopes, bajadas, and desert flats in the Sonoran Desert
Seasonal Notes
Ocotillo leafs out quickly after rain. It can drop its leaves during dry stretches and then leaf out again after the next moisture event, sometimes multiple times in a year. Flowering is most noticeable in spring, with blooms concentrated near cane tips. The plant may appear "dead" when leafless, but it is typically dormant, not dead.
Uses
Ocotillo is most useful as a native landscape and habitat plant. It provides dramatic vertical structure with low water needs once established, especially in full sun and well-drained soils. It is commonly used in desert landscaping for privacy screening, accent planting, and restoring native character. Historically, ocotillo canes have also been used as natural fencing or boundary material due to their straight, durable stems.
Ethics + Disclaimers
This site is for education only and is not medical or foraging advice. Do not harvest ocotillo from protected areas and do not remove wild plants. If you want ocotillo at home, use nursery-grown plants and follow local planting guidance. When observing or photographing, avoid breaking canes and avoid trampling the soil crust and surrounding vegetation.
Wildlife Value
Ocotillo flowers are an important nectar source in spring and can support desert pollinators. The tubular blooms attract nectar-feeding birds and insects. The plant also provides cover and perching structure for small birds and other wildlife, especially in open desert areas where vertical structure is limited.
Interesting Facts
- Ocotillo can leaf out and drop leaves repeatedly in the same year depending on rainfall patterns.
- Even when leafless, ocotillo can still be alive and ready to respond quickly to moisture.
- The bright flower clusters appear near the cane tips and are one of the most recognizable spring signals in the Sonoran Desert.
- Ocotillo is not a true cactus, even though it can look cactus-like when leafless.
- The same plant can look completely different across seasons, from bare canes to a green, leafy shrub within days after rain.