Fouquieria macdougali

• Names and Synonyms:  
  Fouquieria macdougalii
• Common Names:  
  Mexican Ocotillo Tree, Candlewood Tree, Palo pitillo, Chimulí, Torote Espinosa, Torote Verde, Jaboncillo, Palo Verde, Torote Jaboncillo, Torotillo, Chunari, Ocotillo Macho
• Family:  
  Fouquieriaceae
• Origin:  
  The Sonoran desert in Mexico where it grows on rocky slopes at elevations from 500 to 2,500 ft.
• Size Label:  
  Available in 4 inch and 1gal sizes
• Height:  
  10-20'
• Width:  
  8-10'
• Cold Tolerance:  
  25 to 30°F; -3.9 to -1.1°C
• Heat Tolerance:  
  Extreme heat tolerance.
• Light Requirement:  
  Full sun
• Water needs:  
  Very drought tolerant but needs water during the summer growing season.
• Maintenance:  
  This plant can be pruned as desired.
• Uses:  
  F. macdougali is an excellent plant for dry native gardens where it's bright red, nectar-filled blooms will attract hummingbirds. It can also be grown in a pot and is one of the easier Fouquierias to hav bloom in a container. It can be trained as a desert bonsai plant and should be trimmed in spring and summer but allowed to rest in fall and winter. It is an often used in landscape plant in Phoenix and Tucson, AZ.
• Propagation:  
  This plant is propagated from stem cuttings or seeds. Seed grown plants should reach flowering size at around 3 years.
• Problems:  
  Root and stem rot in poor draining soils.
• Special notes:  
  This is a fast-growing, semi-evergreen shrub with long cane-like branches covered in spines and alternate green leaves. Young stems are reddish brown contasting with the bright green leaves. Over time it forms a caudex-like trunk with thin peeling bark. In summer it puts on quite a show with panicles of tubular red flowers. F. macdougali is drought deciduous and will drop it's leaves during dry spells. It prefers more water than its cousin F. splendens (the California Ocotillo) having generally more leaves and a larger floral display. In Mexico the bark is used as a substitute for soap, especially for washing woolens, and also for shampoo. It is also used as a hedge or corral as its spiny branches deter larger animals. F. macdougalii's lifespan is several decades.
• Research Links:
  
  http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64130/
• http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fouquieriaceae/Fouquieria_macdougalii.html
• http://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Fouquieriaceae/11333/Fouquieria_macdougalii
• http://www.delange.org/OcotilloMexTree/OcotilloMexTree.htm

Additional information