If you’re looking for a striking focal specimen that attracts birds, this plant is for you. Stunning when silhouetted against a plain wall or the skyline, ocotillo has wand-like branches that rise from a central base to about 15' high and fan outward to a diameter of 10'. For our avian friends the branches provide the perfect perch for singing, and for surveying the landscape for predators, mates, food, and nesting sites. One-inch long green leaves are present during times of adequate moisture, but drop quickly under drought stress. Following rain, leaves can miraculously resprout within a matter of days. The long graceful stems are chlorophyllous; that is, they contain chlorophyll so even without leaves the plant is able to photosynthesize. From March–May the stem tips are afire with bright red-orange tubular flower tassels beckoning birds and insects aplenty. Ocotillo is a particularly important nectar food source for hummingbirds and orioles during spring migration. Some have suggested that the flowering time of this plant was determined by hummingbirds which transverse large portions of the ocotillo’s range during their northward migration. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun. The stems are armed with stiff spines so best not to place near sidewalks or patios. Plants are slow growing, but can tolerate long periods of drought, are cold hardy (to 10 degrees), and extremely long-lived. If you feel it’s necessary to remove a branch, cut all the way back to the base (rather than part way) in order to maintain the plant’s sculptural beauty. Ocotillos are often sold bare-root, but seed-grown plants are also available. Water newly set out plants about once a week until established. Ocotillo stems have traditionally been used for making fences and ramadas. Create your own “living fence” by planting individual branches close together in a line. If all goes well, they will develop roots and eventually leaves. - Lynn Hassler