Fouquieria splendens

Fouquieria splendens is a deciduous shrub growing to 6 meters tall by 4 meters wide at a medium rate. Hardy to UK zone 10 and self-fertile, noted for attracting wildlife. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils preferring well-drained conditions and nutritionally poor soil across mildly acidic to very alkaline pH ranges. Requires full sun and prefers dry soil, tolerating drought.

Description

Fouquieria splendens is a deciduous shrub growing to 6 meters tall by 4 meters wide at a medium rate. Hardy to UK zone 10 and self-fertile, noted for attracting wildlife. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils preferring well-drained conditions and nutritionally poor soil across mildly acidic to very alkaline pH ranges. Requires full sun and prefers dry soil, tolerating drought.

Edible Uses

Flowers soaked overnight in water make a drink, sometimes mixed with other juices. Flowers dried for tea. Capsules and flowers eaten raw or cooked with tangy flavor. Parched seeds ground into flour for cakes.

Traditional Uses

The flowers are soaked in water overnight and used as a drink. This is sometimes mixed with other juices. The capsules and flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. The parched seeds are ground into flour and used for cakes.

Medicinal Uses

Individual ocotillo stems are sometimes used as poles as a fencing material in their native region, and often take root to form a living fence. Due to their light weight and interesting pattern, ocotillo branches have been used for canes or walking sticks. Fresh flowers are sometimes used in salads and have a tangy flavor. Flowers are collected, dried, and used for tisanes. According to Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West (a book published in 1989 by Museum of New Mexico Press), a fresh bark tincture can be made by chopping or snipping freshly removed bark into 1/2-inch pieces. It is said to be useful for those symptoms that arise due to fluid congestion and to be absorbed from the intestines into the mesenteric lymph system by way of the lacteals of the small intestinal lining. This is believed to stimulate better visceral lymph drainage into the thoracic duct and improve dietary fat absorption into the lymph system. Bathing in water that contains crushed flowers or roots has been used to relieve fatigue. Native Americans place the flowers and roots of ocotillo over fresh wounds to slow bleeding. Ocotillo is also used to alleviate coughing, achy limbs, varicose veins, urinary tract infections, cervical varicosities, and benign prostate growths.

Known Hazards

Spines or sharp edges.

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in arid places. It occurs in desert places.

Where It Grows

Mexico, North America, USA,

Cultivation

Experimental Crop Management: Standard. Climate: warm temperate to tropical. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. Altitude: 0-1500 m. Not a true cactus. Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping - needs desert conditions, excellent drainage, full sun, no extra water. Soil pH requirements: 6.1 (mildly acidic) to 7.8 (mildly alkaline). Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: experimental. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation). Ocotillo is generally considered self-fertile, although cross-pollination can occur. The flowers can be harvested in spring when they bloom. Ocotillo typically flowers in spring. Ocotillo is a moderately fast-growing plant, particularly in optimal conditions, reaching heights of up to 20 feet (6 meters) over several years. However, growth can slow during dry periods.

Propagation

Direct sow seed outdoors in fall. Propagate from woody stem cuttings or softwood cuttings.

Other Uses

Used as drought-tolerant landscape plant providing habitat and food for wildlife, offering shelter for birds and insects. Branches used for poles as fencing material and often root to form living fences. Used as canes or walking sticks. Bright red flowers rich in nectar attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and small animals. Suitable as specimen, hedge, or container plant and for indoor cultivation.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Cardo santo

References (8)

• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 117
• Felger, R. S. 1980, Vegetation and Flora of the Gran Desierti, Sonora, Mexico. Desert Plants 2(2). Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. p 9
• https://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/category/edible-plants/ Edible Plants – Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants
• Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 374
• Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 234