Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
Pictures, Photos, And Information, Trees

Boojum Tree, Fouquieria columnaris

Boojum Tree, Fouquieria columnaris October 6, 2006. Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden.

Boojum Tree, Fouquieria columnaris February 28, 2008. Carefree Arizona, Desert Foothills Gardens Nursery

Small Boojum Tree	Small Fouquieria columnaris
Boojum Tree Trunk	Fouquieria columnaris Leaves
Boojum Tree Flowers	Fouquieria columnaris Flowers
Boojum Tree Seed Pods	Fouquieria columnaris Seeds

Boojum Tree Fouquieria columnaris, Ocotillo Family ( Fouquieraceae ) Boojum Tree: Also called; Idria columnaris, Candlewood, or Cirio. A large stem succulent, very slow growing, to about 55 feet high, with a gently tapering trunk, similar to a tall candle, or upside down carrot, about 1 - 3 foot wide at its base. The trunk has pencil-like short branches with deciduous leaves. On older trees, or trees that have had a freeze, the main trunk splits into two or more stems near the top. It has cream to yellow tubular flowers which bloom from May to June in Phoenix and appear at the tops of the trunks and near the stem tips. This is a rather rare and expensive plant. Drought deciduous and they drop their leaves if they lack water. They might then look dead. Desert Foothills Gardens Nursery in Cave Creek, Arizona grows these plants and they have several large plants for sale. They say the plants grow easily from seed. Large plants sell for about $1000.00 a foot. Seedling plants are inexpensive. Height: Up To 55 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet wide. Most are about 15 - 20 feet tall Bark: Brown - gray, smooth; with paired, straight spines. Trunk: Up to about 36 inches in diameter. Flowers: Panicles of cream to yellow tubular flowers, about 1 inch long, occuring in spike-like clusters (12 to 20 inches long) near the tops of the tree. Blooming Time: May to June in the Phoenix Area. Leaves: Alternate, obovate, 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches long, with entire margins, fleshy, occuring in bunches, yellow-green to blue-green in color. Seeds: Light brown, 3 valved elongated (about 1 inch long) capsule. Seeds about 1/4 inch long. Found: Mexico. A low water use landscaping plant in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Elevation: 1,000 to 3,800 Feet. Habitat: Rocky hillsides and alluvial plains. Rare Xeriscape ornamental in lower elevations or Arizona. Introduced from Mexico, especially from the desert of northern Baja California. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken October 11, 2006. Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden. Not native to Arizona. We found beautiful specimans at Desert Foothills Gardens Nursery in Cave Creek Arizona.