Fouquieria splendens

Ocotillo · Vine-cactus

Family FouquieriaceaeGenus Fouquieria

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit: shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit: Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height: 10.0 ft3 mPLANTS Database
Flower: RedPLANTS Database
Blooms: IndeterminatePLANTS Database
Native range: Arizona, California, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Nevada and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Its leaves come out only after rain and drop when the soil dries, several times in a warm season. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Fouquieria splendens
Ocotillo means little pine in Mexican Spanish. The flowers draw hummingbirds and finches. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Fouquieria splendens

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 2 days to germinate.

100% germination in 2 days.

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 2 days to germinate.

40% germination in 2 days.

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials