Fouquieria splendens Sierra Co NM Chrysogonum Plantsman Darrell Probst

Plantsman Darrell Probst

The clumps are topped with 8" spikes of light lavender flowers in summer

staking may be helpful if rain is in your forecast when the flowers are fully open

the clumps of Salvia 'Santa Barbara' are topped with spikes of fuzzy purple with a nicely contrasting lighter purple lip

when we spotted what appeared to be an elephant ear hybrid growing in a wild patch of Leucocasia (Colocasia) gigantea

Fouquieria splendens Sierra Co NM Chrysogonum Plantsman Darrell ProbstOcotillo is one of those signature plants that draws your attention when you visit the Southwest US desert. Although many folks assume it to be a cactus, ocotillo is so bizarre, it's sequestered by taxonomists in its own family, Fouquieriaceae. Fouqueria splendens is native throughout the Chihuhuan and Sonoran Deserts from Texas through California. The naked upright stems can reach 20', and appear dead until rain causes the leaves to emerge, which can