The Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) is a plant native to the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert in the Southwestern United States. Its unusual form and appearance make it an essential part of southwestern landscapes.
A semi-succulent desert plant, Ocotillo is more closely related to tea and blueberries than to cacti.
For much of the year, the plant appears to be an arrangement of large spiny dead sticks, although closer examination reveals that the stems are partly green. With rainfall, the plant quickly becomes lush with small, ovate leaves, which may remain for weeks or even months.
