Fouquieria diguetii
| Light | Full sun; the more the better for a compact, well-flowered plant |
|---|---|
| Water | Water when in leaf; keep dry during leafless dormancy |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; tolerates brief light frost when dry, roughly USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed; cuttings are possible but slow and unreliable |
| Toxicity | Not known to be toxic to cats or dogs |
Fouquieria diguetii is a branching tree ocotillo native to the Baja California peninsula and adjacent northwestern Mexico. Unlike the familiar whip-stemmed ocotillo of the Sonoran Desert, it develops a stout, thickened trunk that divides into a crown of spiny, tapering branches, giving it the look of a small desert tree — hence its Spanish common name Palo Adán, or Adam's Tree. Its clusters of tubular red flowers and stout, thickened trunk make it popular with desert-bonsai and succulent enthusiasts.
Description
Fouquieria diguetii is a spiny, drought-deciduous shrub or small tree that typically reaches a few metres tall, occasionally more in favourable habitat. Unlike the whip-stemmed ocotillos, which throw up a cluster of near-equal canes from ground level, it forms a distinct, thickened woody trunk; from this trunk arise numerous stiff, tapering branches armed with sharp spines.
The spines develop from the hardened, persistent leaf stalks (petioles) of earlier leaves — a hallmark of the genus Fouquieria. After rain the branches flush quickly with small, rounded green leaves; these are shed again as the soil dries, leaving the plant leafless and grey through drought. Tubular flowers are borne in loose clusters near the branch tips and are usually bright red to red-orange, attractive to hummingbirds and other nectar feeders.
Distribution and habitat
The species is centred on the Baja California peninsula, growing on both the peninsula and on islands and adjacent mainland shores of the Gulf of California in northwestern Mexico. It is a plant of hot, arid coastal desert and thornscrub, where it grows on rocky slopes and sandy flats among other drought-adapted shrubs and succulents.
In these habitats rainfall is sparse and unpredictable, and the plant's drought-deciduous habit — leafing out fast after rain and dropping its leaves as soon as conditions dry — is a direct adaptation to that boom-and-bust water supply.
Cultivation
Fouquieria diguetii is grown much like other desert-adapted succulents: give it as much sun as you can, a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, and careful watering tied to its growth cycle. Water generously while the plant is in active leaf, letting the mix dry between waterings, and cut water right back once it drops its leaves and goes dormant. Wet, cold soil during dormancy is the main danger, as it invites root and stem rot.
Keep it warm and bright; it appreciates protection from hard frost, though established plants tolerate brief, light freezes when kept dry. Because the trunk thickens with age, growers who want a stocky, characterful specimen often pot it snugly and grow it hard in strong light rather than pushing fast, soft growth. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Seed is the most reliable method. Sow onto a warm, gritty surface and keep lightly moist until germination, then grow the seedlings on in bright conditions. Fresh seed generally gives the best results.
Cuttings are sometimes attempted, but like many Fouquieria they root slowly and unreliably, and cutting-grown plants often lack the naturally thickened trunk base that makes the species desirable. For most growers, patience with seed is the better route. See Propagation - seed and Propagation - cuttings for full walkthroughs.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, almost always from watering while the plant is dormant or from a slow-draining mix.
- Failure to leaf out — often simply dormancy; a healthy plant will flush again once it is warm and watered in its growing season. Persistent bare, shrivelling branches can signal root problems.
- Pests — watch for scale and mealybugs sheltering along the branches and in the spine bases; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Fouquieria — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation - seed · Propagation - cuttings