The third time is the charm for us with regard to growing our own ocotillo in the front yard, right where I can see it out my office window. It's my favorite desert plant and on our third try we have a thriving plant.
Bill and I thought it was dead because no leaves grew despite regular watering after it was transplanted. We were thinking about calling the nursery where we got it and pulling it out to return and get our money back. However, one day we noticed flowers at the tips of two branches (arms?) and the humming birds had discovered the flowers as well. We knew we had a live plant after all!
Such smart plants, these ocotillos; they grow leaves when it rains, then drop them after a fairly short dry period. Since plants lose most water through their leaves, this is an adaptation for the desert. They can grow and drop leaves up to eight times a year!
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