Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens – Native Plants of North America

Introduction

Fouquieria splendens Ocotillo is part of a small genus of 11 plant species and the only genus in the very small family of Fouquieriaceae. The entire family is endemic to the arid southwestern US and northern Mexican deserts. At first glance, you might think it is related to the Cactaceae family in the Caryophyllales order. However, they are not at all related. The Fouquieriaceae are part of the Ericales order. If you take a close look at their flowers, you will see they resemble Ericaceae far more than they do Cactaceae. Only their spiny stems and their love of arid deserts resemble the Cactaceae family.

It is an interesting and unique plant and a great low-maintenance addition to any southern USA or northern Mexico garden. Once established, simply enjoy its beauty, no need to water or fertilize. Many of the 11 species of this genus are endangered and have very limited geographical ranges. If you have any in your yard, please allow them to grow and help propagate them.

Description of Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens

Stem & Leaves of Fouquieria splendens

Ocotillo is a shrub with multiple semi-succulent greenish spreading, but upright stems that branch heavily from its base but rarely again after that. Younger stems are green and capable of photosynthesis, but older stems turn grey. Stems grow to 10 m tall and 5 cm in diameter near the base. The stems are covered in spines from hardened petioles (leaf stalks) from the previous season’s leaves. It is a slow-growing dry, season deciduous shrub that may live up to 200 years.

Its first leaves on new growth produce a petiole (leaf stalk) which hardens into a sharp spine that remains after the leaf falls off. After a rain, its new green leaves sprout from below the spiny petioles and may persist for weeks or months. Leaves are 2 – 4 cm long and ovate in shape.

Flowers & Fruits of Fouquieria splendens

The crimson red flowers appear in spring and summer in dense terminal clusters 15 – 25 cm long at the ends of the stems. They have 5 overlapping sepals and 5 petals that are connate (joined) into a slightly zygomorphic tube. They have several exserted stamens with crimson red filaments topped with yellow anthers. They are filled with nectar and feed the native hummingbirds.

Its fruit is a green seed-filled capsule that turns brown when ripe.

Similar Species Fouquieria splendens is Frequently Confused With

With its spreading stems, lack of branches, small leaves, and cactus-like appearance, this rules out confusion with cacti due to the presence of leaves (exceedingly rare in Cactaceae) and its spreading habit that does not resemble any cactus in its range. The red tubular flowers on a cactus-like plant also make it difficult to confuse with other genera or families. However, there are 11 species of Fouquieria in North America, though most are quite rare and many are endangered. Following are 7 of the more well-known species and how to differentiate them from Ocotillo.

• Fouquieria burragei – a micro endemic species restricted to the gulf coast of Baja California Sur where it is also considered endangered. It grows 3 – 7 m tall and has a more spreading habit giving the overall shape a fan-like appearance rather than the tall columnar branches of Ocotillo. It also has white to red flowers with numerous exserted stamens.
• Fouquieria columnaris – this is a strange tree-like species growing to 20 m tall with a single columnar trunk with a diameter of up to 25 cm. It has a very narrow range being restricted to Baja California, northern Baja California Sur, and a small population off the coast of Sonora.
• Fouquieria diguetii – this one is restricted to Baja California, Baja California Sur and the coasts of Sonora and Sinaloa. It grows 1.8 – 3 m tall. Its leaves are dark green and elliptic up to 2 cm long
• Fouquieria formosa – this one is restricted to central and southern Mexico with a limited range. It grows up to 10 m in height, reaching small tree-size proportions. Its range does not seem to overlap with Ocotillo.
• Fouquieria macdougalii – this one is restricted to Sonora, Sinaloa, and the eastern edge of Chihuahua. It is a tree Ocotillo with a trunk 1 – 2 m tall and up to 40 cm wide. It has branching stems that hang pendulously on the ends (unlike Fouquieria splendens) and grow to a total of up to 11 m.
• Fouquieria purpusii – this one is restricted to Puebla and Oaxaca, and its range likely does not overlap with Ocotillo. It has a unique bulbous stem at the base and white flowers. It is endangered.
• Fouquieria shrevei – this is a rare micro-endemic species of Coahuila and Durango that is restricted to some gypsum outcroppings. It grows to 3 m tall and has white instead of red flowers, and its leaves are broader than any of the other species in the genus. It is an endangered species.

Distribution of Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens

Ocotillo is found only in the Sonoran, Chihuahua, and Colorado deserts of the southwestern USA and northern Mexico.

In the USA, Ocotillo is found in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

In Mexico, Fouquieria splendens is found in Baja California, Baja California Norte, Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, Queretaro, Hidalgo, and Puebla. It is not found south of Puebla.

Habitat & Growing Conditions of Ocotillo

Ocotillo is a desert-dwelling shrub. It prefers open and very rocky habitats like rocky slopes, mesas, washes, and desert grasslands. It grows in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil that remains dry most of the year. Fouquieria splendens prefers sandy or rocky loam, limestone, or granite-based soils with a neutral to alkaline pH of 7 – 9. It is tolerant of mild freezing temperatures and is very drought tolerant.

Growing Fouquieria splendens in Your Garden

If you live in the arid or semi-arid southern USA or northern Mexico, Ocotillo is a terrific landscape shrub. Once established, it requires little to no maintenance, not even water, unless in an overly-extended period of drought. They are resilient plants and generally will only die if you over-water them. Plant them, and once established, ignore them completely, and they will thrive. If you do water, never do so more than once per month.

It can be propagated from seed but reproduces readily from cuttings taken at any time of the year. Cuttings are a faster and more reliable method. You can take cuttings from wild specimens being sure to follow the rules of Ethical Wildcrafting, where you harvest cuttings from 1 in 20 stems that you see. Simply dip the end in rooting hormone and plant in moist but well-drained soil and keep it relatively moist (but not wet) until it becomes established, then cease watering.

If gathering seeds, gather 1 in every 20 ripe brown capsules you find before they split open. Then allow them to dry completely and plant the seeds untreated. Extra seeds can be stored in the fridge.

Ocotillo can be planted year-round. Smaller plants grown by seeds or cuttings in pots will transplant well. Do not bury the stems and water occasionally during the establishment phase but be sure to allow it to dry between waterings as they will not tolerate water logging.

Large plants do not transplant as well. If you are moving a large plant, you should plant it to the same depth as it was originally and with the same side south-facing as it was in its previous location, as this side is more adapted to the sun and heat.

Wildlife Values of Ocotillo

Hummingbirds are the main pollinators of Ocotillo, who are attracted to the red tubular flowers and feed on the abundant nectar. Native carpenter bees also visit the flowers, and bats may as well.

Verdin and other desert birds visit the plants. Its seeds are eaten by numerous native birds and small mammals.

They are host to Hemileuca electra silkmoths.

Status of Fouquieria splendens

Ocotillo is considered Globally Secure, G5. This assessment seems premature given the lack of actual data on its assessment in both the US and Mexico.

In the USA, Fouquieria splendens is considered critically Imperiled S1 in Nevada. In all other states, it currently has no status rank and is in need of proper assessment.

No official information on its status in Mexico could be found.

Traditional or Other Uses of Ocotillo

Fouquieria splendens Medicinal Uses

The Mahuna people used Fouquieria splendens as a blood purifier and tonic. Other Native Americans used fresh flowers or roots on wounds to slow bleeding, and they would bathe in water with flowers or roots to help relieve fatigue.

Ocotillo is also a mild expectorant used for coughs.

It is also sometimes used for achy limbs, varicose veins, urinary tract infections, benign prostate growths, and cervical varicosities and to improve the function of the lymphatic system.

Ocotillo as Food

Fresh flowers are sometimes added to salads to impart a tangy flavor. Flowers are sometimes collected and dried and used in tea. The Cahuilla used the fresh flowers in water as a summertime drink. The Papago pressed the nectar out of flowers, then hardened it like rock candy and chewed it as a favorite delicacy.

The Cahuilla would grind the parched seeds into flour to make cakes.

The Yavapai children would suck the tasty nectars out of the fresh flowers.

Ocotillo As Ornamental or Tools

Individual stems are sometimes used as poles as fencing material and often take root to form a living fence. Plants make a terrific ornamental border to keep animals or people out of an area. The Cahuilla often used the stems as a border around crops to keep rodents out. Cahuilla would also use the stems for firewood.

Papago people used wooden stems often in their house building and other construction projects. They would also use thorns to pierce ears. The Pima people used the stems bound together with wire or rawhide for shelves and also used the plants in their gardens ornamentally. Seri people would use the stems to make sun and wind shelters.

The lightweight stems, once removed from thorns, make great walking sticks.

Gum resin from the bark has been used for waxing leather and as an adhesive, varnish, and waterproofing agent.

Ocotillo as Ceremonial

The Papago used flexible stems as ceremonial structures representing clouds or mountains.

Ethical Wildcrafting of Fouquieria splendens

Check the status in your state before harvesting since it is currently critically imperiled in Nevada. See the above section on Status.

Alternatively, grow it in your garden for both its lovely form, low maintenance, and useful properties.

If you are harvesting Fouquieria splendens from the wild, as always, use the 1 in 20 rule of Ethical Wildcrafting. Pick one in every 20 flowers, fruit, or stems that you see.

Wildcrafting and Processing

Wear gloves to protect your hands from sharp spines. Harvesting stems can be done with a small hand saw and simply cutting the stem near the base. Never pick more than one stem from a single plant. You can use a sharp knife to scrape the thorns from the stem or to remove the bark.

Picked fruits, roots, or flowers can be placed in a basket, bowl, or paper bag and brought home for processing. If you are harvesting multiple products on the same day, be sure to label the roots in a paper bag so that you do not confuse different plants.

Flowers can be eaten fresh upon picking. If used medicinally, it can be dried for later use.

When harvesting roots, dig near the base of the plant with a digging stick. Never use a shovel, as they will damage roots indiscriminately. Find a single healthy root and sever it with a sharp blade, then re-bury the other end. Being a desert plant, it is best to harvest roots anytime the soil is dry (most of the year) since wet soil could encourage the severed root to rot.

To dry the flowers, fruit capsules, or bark pieces, simply place them on a rack or screen in a single layer and allow them to dry. Fruits, when dry, will split apart to reveal the seeds.

Roots should be brushed clean of any dirt and then chopped into more manageable pieces before drying. Dried roots are notoriously difficult to cut into smaller pieces once dried.

Once dried, the fruits, seeds, and roots can be stored in a jar for later use. Label your jar with the species’ name and the date of harvest. I also usually add the location of the harvest for my own reference.

Do not grind or crush any of the plant materials until you are ready to use them to keep them as fresh as possible and preserve their medicinal properties. When you pre-grind, even if stored in glass jars, this increases the oxidation rate and rapidly degrades the medicinal properties so that they are rendered ineffective in a shorter amount of time than if left as whole as possible.

References and Resources

California Native Plant Society on Fouquieria splendens https://calscape.org/Fouquieria-splendens-()

Canadensys Plant Search https://data.canadensys.net/vascan/search

Dictionary of Botanical Terms – by Lyrae’s Nature Blog https://lyraenatureblog.com/blog/dictionary-of-botanical-terms/

Eflora Plants of North America http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=1

iNaturalist Plant Search https://www.inaturalist.org/home

IUCN Red List https://www.iucnredlist.org/

Native American Ethnobotany http://naeb.brit.org/

NatureServe Explorer https://explorer.natureserve.org/Search

USDA Plants Database https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home

Wikipedia on Fouquieria splendens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fouquieria_splendens

Wildflower.org on Fouquieria splendens https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=fosp2

Willis, Lyrae (Unpublished).  Plant Families of North America. 

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