- Author: Jenni Dodini
Our recent trip to Sedona involved a lot of hiking into the beautiful canyons in search of the vortex. The photography does not really show the depth of color in the soil. It is really quite red!
While on the trip, I started noticing these plants along the freeway and became increasingly mesmerized. When I got home, I asked a friend who is active in the Native Plant Society and she was able to identify it for me as the Ocotillo. Now I had a place to start gathering information.
I went online to DesertUSA. Then to the Sunset Western Garden Book. What I was really trying to find out was if I could have one, and more importantly, if it would survive here. Well, here is what I learned.....
The Ocotillo is Fouquieria splendens from the family Fouquieriaceae. There are 11 species, most of which can be found in Mexico, but are native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts of southeast California to west Texas and, of course, Mexico. They are known as a bajada resident. (Really??? We did not learn about that in class!) After a quick visit to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, I now know that this is a broad alluvial slope extending from the base of a mountain range out into a basin and formed by a coalescence of separate alluvial fans. (OK, makes sense now. I remember that part of class.) The ocotillo grows in open, stony, well drained soil on desert slopes below 5000 feet elevation. (First clue that it might not survive here.)
It is actually a deciduous, woody shrub. It grows in zones 10-13, 18-20. (Clue #2) The leaves are small and close to the stem, and are dropped quickly during hot dry spells(drought-deciduous), leaving it leafless most of the year. The leaves sprout quickly after rain and the plant blooms annually, even without leafing. However, they grow and bloom best if soaked deeply once a month. The flowers are generally red, tubular and about an inch long on the end of the branches on a stem about 10 inches long. They grow in an inverted funnel shape with up to 75 whiplike, spiny straight branches that angle outward from the base. They can grow as tall as 20 feet. Needless to say, but they require full sun. Propagation is simple- cut a branch and stick it in the ground. If they are planted close together, in rows, they will form a living fence. Other names listed are: Candlewood, Slim Wood, Coachwhip, Vine Cactus, Flamingsword, and Jacob's Staff.
So, as a result of my research, I concluded that I would probably be better off to enjoy the pictures and save my money at this time. However, if El Nino fails to visit and this horrible drought continues, maybe......