Fouquieria formosa
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- Rhizome
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2017 4:54 pm
Fouquieria formosa
Any experience with this one? The tag I bought said it's hardy to 20 F. I find very little about it online, but this picture is pretty intriguing: https://www.flickr.com/photos/59981216@N02/7068801143. If it can live on the beach it must be pretty tough. Curious how much water it can take.
- Minime8484
- Offset
- Posts: 177
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2014 4:14 pm
- Location: Chandler, AZ
Re: fouquieria formosa
If you are looking for a cold-hardy species besides the US native F. splendens, this one is the one for you.
IMO, the most unique aspect of this species has been that it literally has thrived in our coldest winters. That's not to say it is found in colder temps in Mexico, as it isn’t. I don't know why this is the case, but my F. formosa go through their most significant growth spurts in early spring, immediately following our coldest winters (2007 [down to 18F] and 2011 [down to 22F] caused the most growth in my plants!). Other years it is an excessively slow grower. Other than F. splendens, this is the only Fouquieria species (I grow all 11) that I've never had to trim distal branches after a freeze.
IMO, the most unique aspect of this species has been that it literally has thrived in our coldest winters. That's not to say it is found in colder temps in Mexico, as it isn’t. I don't know why this is the case, but my F. formosa go through their most significant growth spurts in early spring, immediately following our coldest winters (2007 [down to 18F] and 2011 [down to 22F] caused the most growth in my plants!). Other years it is an excessively slow grower. Other than F. splendens, this is the only Fouquieria species (I grow all 11) that I've never had to trim distal branches after a freeze.
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- Ready to Bolt
- Posts: 5702
- Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2015 12:58 pm
- Location: Hayward ca/SF bay area
- USDA Zone: 10a
Re: fouquieria formosa
Great looking plant Bursera like. Fast grower?
Hayward Ca. 75-80f summers,60f winters.
- Paul S
- Ready to Bolt
- Posts: 1580
- Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:44 am
- Location: Southest Essex, England
Re: fouquieria formosa
Saw it in Oaxaca, Mexico, in a botanical garden at Zapotitlan Salinas. Fabulous trunk - you just have to stroke it!