View source for Ocotillo

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Fouquieriaceae
|genus=Fouquieria
|species=splendens
|common_name=Ocotillo, desert coral, coachwhip, Jacob's staff, vine cactus
|name_ref=Wikipedia
|habit=cacti-succulent
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|Max ht box=30
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|Max wd box=6
|Max wd metric=ft
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|lifespan=perennial
|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|exposure=sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|features=flowers
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|flowers=red, pink
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=7
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|max_zone=11
|image=Ocotillo02262006.JPG
|image_width=180
}}
'''''Fouquieria splendens''''' Engelm. is a curious and unique [[desert]] [[plant]] of the [[southwestern United States]] and northern [[Mexico]]. Common names include '''ocotillo''', '''desert coral''', '''coachwhip''', '''Jacob's staff''', and '''vine cactus''', although it is not a [[cactaceae|true cactus]]. For much of the year, the plant appears to be an arrangement of large spiny dead sticks, although closer examination reveals that the [[Plant stem|stems]] are partly green.  With rainfall the plant quickly becomes lush with small (2-4&nbsp;cm) ovate [[Leaf|leaves]], which may remain for weeks or even months.

Individual stems may reach a diameter of 5&nbsp;cm at the base, and the plant may grow to a height of 10 m.  The plant branches very heavily at its base, but above that the branches are pole-like and only infrequently divide further, and specimens in cultivation may not exhibit any secondary branches. The leaf stalks harden into blunt spines, and new leaves sprout from the base of the spine. 

The bright crimson [[flower]]s appear especially after rainfall in spring, summer, and occasionally fall.  Flowers are clustered indeterminantly at the tips of each mature stem.  Individual flowers are mildly zygomorphic and are [[pollination|pollinated]] by [[hummingbird]]s and native  [[carpenter bee]]s.

{{Inc|
Fouquieria splendens, Engelm. Coach-Whip. Vine-Cactus. Jacob's Staff. Ocotillo. Shrub, 6-25 ft., branching near the base: branches long, gray, furrowed, erect: Ivs. obovate, rounded at apex, wedge-shaped at base, ½ -l in. long: fls. scarlet or brick-red, exceeding 1 in. long, in racemose or thyrsoid elongated clusters; stamens 8-12, exserted: caps. 1/2 – 2/3 in. long, the seeds white, with a long fringe of spirally thickened hairs. W. Texas and Ariz, to 8. Calif. B.M. 8318. A.G. 13:759.—A hedge plant in Mex., making an impenetrable barrier. The plant is a conspicuous object in the deserts from Texas westward, standing on the open exposed places and slopes, the rod-like stiff canes looking like lifeless sticks in dry weather and in its season crowned with masses of showy bloom. 
{{SCH}}
}}

==Cultivation==
'''Plant Selection.''' Planting ocotillo can be done the year around with care.  Ideall ocotillo plants have been grown from stem cuttings or from seed.  Transplanting large bare-root plants has marginal success.  They should be planted to the original growing depth and, as with cacti, in their original directional orientation.  The original south side of the plant, which has become more heat and sunlight-resistant, should again face the brighter, hotter southern direction.  If their direction is not marked, success is again limited.

'''Soil.''' Ocotillo plants prefer well drained sandy or gravely loam soils with light to moderate amounts of organic content.   For caliche subsoil, break a hole through it so the plant has adequate drainage.  

'''Location.''' Sunny, open, unrestricted locations and those where surface water does not collect are ideal for ocotillo. 

'''Planting.''' To help prevent a newly transplanted ocotillo from falling over or blowing down in a storm, large stones may be placed over the root area instead of staking, which often scars the stems.  Leave two to four inches space around the trunk. Some degree of growth set-back is to be expected. Properly transplanted, however, this native plant will reestablish itself fairly quickly.

'''Water.'''  Transplanted ocotillo plants require irrigation to become established, but once established, they can survive on 8 inches of rainfall per year.

'''Fertilizer.'''  A well-balanced fertilizer at half strength will help ocotillo to grow faster.  This will usually stimulate plant growth and vigor. However, do not apply fertilizer to newly transplanted plants. When using any fertilizer, apply it evenly to the soil surface over the rooting area and water well into the soil.  Do not risk overfertilizing; this plant is adapted to harsh conditions without added fertilizer.

'''Caution.''' State plant protection laws are enforced; contact the state Department of Agriculture for specific regulations, restrictions, permits, penalties, etc. before digging and moving any cacti, agaves, ocotillos, yuccas, or other protected species.  Purchased plants should be from a reputable source.

===Propagation===
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Varieties==
Three [[subspecies]] are accepted by some botanists:
*''Fouquieria splendens'' subsp. ''splendens''
*''Fouquieria splendens'' subsp. ''breviflora'' [[Henrickson]]
*''Fouquieria splendens'' subsp. ''campanulata'' ([[George Valentine Nash|Nash]]) Henrickson

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Ocotillo_leaves-300px.jpg|Closeup of ocotillo leaves.
Image:Ocotillothron02262006.JPG|Closeup of ocotillo thorns. Taken in [[Anza-Borrego Desert State Park]]
Image:Ocotilloflower02262006.JPG|Closeup of ocotillo flowers. Taken in [[Anza-Borrego Desert State Park]]
Image:Ocotillo-600.jpg|Ocotillo covered with rare [[snow]] in [[Tucson]]
Image:Ocotillo.jpg|Ocotillo in full bloom.
</gallery>

==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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