# ocotillo (*Fouquieria splendens*) The ocotillo is a tall, spiky plant that looks like a bunch of green sticks reaching for the sky. It blooms bright red flowers in the spring, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 35 - **Habitat:** Desert ![ocotillo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ocotillo_GB.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ricraider at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ocotillo_GB.jpg) ## Appearance The ocotillo is a striking desert plant with multiple long, unbranched, whip-like stems covered in sharp thorns. It has small, bright green leaves that appear quickly after rain, and clusters of brilliant red-orange tubular flowers at the stem tips. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Fouquieriaceae - **Genus:** Fouquieria ## Interesting facts - Despite looking like dead sticks, it's alive and can live over 150 years! - Its stunning red flowers make it look like a desert fireworks display! - Native peoples once used ocotillo stems for fences and even its flowers for drinks! - Ocotillo is not a cactus, even though it has spines and lives in the desert! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Leaf Growth:** Ocotillo can quickly sprout small leaves after rain to photosynthesize, then shed them to conserve water during dry periods. - **Photosynthetic Stems:** Ocotillo has photosynthetic green stems, allowing it to make food even when it has no leaves during severe drought. - **Spiny Armor:** Ocotillo has sharp thorns all over its stems that protect it from hungry desert animals trying to eat its juicy parts. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 180-600 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer, sometimes after rain - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) — attracted to its bright red flowers - **Eats:** [Bighorn Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bighorn-sheep) (*Ovis canadensis*) — browses on young stems and flowers - **Shelter:** [Cactus Wren](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cactus-wren) (*Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus*) — builds nests among its thorny branches ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful around ocotillo; its long spikes can poke you! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify ocotillo? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is ocotillo? 180-600 cm ### How wide does ocotillo spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on ocotillo? 1-2 cm ### When does ocotillo bloom? Spring to summer, sometimes after rain ### Is ocotillo edible? Yes ### Is ocotillo toxic? None ### What is ocotillo's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Boyce Thompson Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boyce-thompson-arboretum) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Mariscal Mine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mariscal-mine) — Texas, US · Historic Site - [Sabino Canyon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabino-canyon) — Arizona, US · Natural Landmark - [Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arizona-sonora-desert-museum) — Arizona, US · Zoo - [Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/centennial-museum-and-chihuahuan-desert-gardens) — US · Botanical Garden - [DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/degrazia-gallery-in-the-sun-historic-district) — Arizona, US · Historic District [View all places to see ocotillo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ocotillo) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Ocotillo: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ocotillo)