Ocotillo Grace by auntietk
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Description
It's pronounced Oh-Kuh-TEE-Yo, in case you were pronouncing it some other way. :)
For most of the year, ocotillo plants look like dead sticks poking up out of the ground in clumps. Like dead blackberry vines (for those of you in the PNW) or like bent rebar (for those of you in construction).
When it rains, little leaves pop out all along each stick (like the stem on the left) and given enough rain, the plant will flower, with bright orange blooms covering the tip end of the stems.
Those straight sticks start to droop from the weight of the leaves and flowers, and they are the most graceful looking things in the desert.
You can learn more here: Ocotillo
The most interesting thing I learned was regarding transplantation. They have orientation issues. Each plant has a south-facing side, and if you move the plant and don't put that side facing south, the plant probably won't make it.
Who knew?
Comments (31)
MrsLubner
I have one I brought back about 7 years ago. It lost it's south side in the trip home. I had it for 2 years in a large half wine barrel in the back. Each year it got leaves but never grew. I moved it after 2 years to the front cactus garden. 5 years later, it is only 3 inches taller, still gets leaves that last most of the summer, but it isn't growing much and no flowers. Mine is living through the disorientation but it's not prospering. :-) I know better next time. Great shot and of all the blooming plants in the Sonoran desert, this is the one I love the most. Beautiful capture.
durleybeachbum
Absolutely rivetting read, Tara! It is amazing how many plants have orientation issues. The epiphyllums, like Christmas and Easter cacti, will unscrew their blooms like little ES light bulbs, and throw them to the ground in a hissy fit if you reposition them wrongly. The lighting in your pic makes me want to bloom too.
jayfar
Great info and shot Tara, I never knew all that or the shrub.
fallen21
Excellent shot.
wysiwig
This one is certainly thriving. Beautiful image. See how the blooms catch the light.
qrud
Plant with a sharp attitude.
Feliciti
very beautiful flowers !! thanks for info about too :)
makron
Wonderful flower and image, love the colors
awjay
beautiful color
PHELINAS
Thank you for the text ,Tara.Wonderful colors and above all the light!
Faemike55
Very cool information Great photo
bobrgallegos
Very beautiful plant and flower. See these blooming all the time in the High deserts of New Mexico. When in bloom they are Quite beautiful. Very nice work on this shot!
jophoto
One of my favorite cacti. I saw them the first time in the Anza-Borrega Desert and they were blooming. I didn't know about the orientation issue. That's very interesting. Delicious color on this Tara!
MrsRatbag
Gorgeous! I love their skeletons, but I've never seen them blooming like this. Fantastic shot and information; I wonder how you tell which is their south side?
helanker
WOW WHat a sight so beautiful. Never saw this before, but I love what see here. Interesting info too and what Andrea wrote, I didnt know about the easter cacti either. Thanks for sharing this beauty.
cfulton
Very interesting info - super lighting on the flowers! Clive
barbdennist
What a beautiful plant, photographed perfectly with the Tara Touch of Light applied. And such interesting information about it. I never knew plants could have an orientation preference.
Orinoor
These are beautiful! The blooms remind me of a plant I've seen in my gardening catalogs, they call it "Lipstick Plant" (I think they just make up names). Anyway, it's gorgeous!
bmac62
Striking...and had no idea that any plant had orientation issues. Kind of like people...you can transplant them but some won't bloom out of their native soil/facing the wrong way. Ok, maybe that is a bit of a stretch...but it is fun to think of people you know like that... (rest assured, it doesn't pertain to me);-)
morningglory
You learn something new every day. Fabulous and bold flowers.
emmecielle
Excellent shot! :)
ia-du-lin
beautiful colors wonderful foto, great light here
Chipka
Gorgeous color and light! I love all of the details; I don't know much about plants, but the idea that one particular species could have a sort of directional OCD is really amazing! As you asked: Who knew!? WOW! I love the fact that I can see something gorgeous and learn something...unexpected. This is a great shot!
Katraz
Great shot, I grew one of these from seed but never got it to flower, sounds like i might have had it facing the wrong way.
lyron
Beautiful picture!!
hipps13
wonderful colors smile warm hugs, Linda Kaye
dochtersions
You've made an amazing shot of this beauty, Tara. Thank you so much for the info. I never saw such a flower.
mickuk50
Not a plant I`m familiar with .Sounds interesting ,will go off and have a read shortly :o) Mick
gonzojr
This is a very beautiful photo!!
jarmila
Wow,this looks fantastic !! Have a great summer week.