Texas · Shrub

Ocotillo for birds in Texas

Red spring flower spikes timed to hummingbird and oriole migration. Native to Texas, where it feeds or shelters 10 backyard bird species.

Scientific name: Fouquieria splendens
Native status: Native in Texas
Hardiness zones: USDA 6b–10a
What birds get from it: nectar
Texas birds supported: 10
Nesting birds among them: 9

Growing conditions in Texas

Humid subtropical in the east and along the Gulf, semi-arid to arid in the west; long, hot summers and short, mild winters over most of the state.

Afternoon highs regularly exceed 95°F — nest boxes need shade or light-colored, ventilated construction, and water matters as much as food.

Texas birds that use Ocotillo

Hard freezes are brief outside the Panhandle, so most feeder birds face heat and drought stress more than cold.

Nesting season it supports in Texas

Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Ocotillo:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird — March–August
Baltimore Oriole — April–July
Orchard Oriole — April–June
Black-chinned Hummingbird — March–July
Broad-tailed Hummingbird — May–July
Verdin — February–June
Bullock's Oriole — April–July
White-winged Dove — March–August
Hooded Oriole — February–July

Native plants to pair with Ocotillo in Texas

Coral honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens · Vine

Native tubular red flowers; not the invasive Japanese honeysuckle.

Trumpet creeper

Campsis radicans · Vine

Large orange trumpets through midsummer.

Cardinal flower

Lobelia cardinalis · Perennial

Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Coral bean

Erythrina herbacea · Shrub

Red tubular spring flowers for early hummingbirds.

Red buckeye

Aesculus pavia · Shrub

Blooms right as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds return.

Frequently asked

Is Ocotillo native to Texas?

Yes. Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) is recorded as native in Texas. Texas spans USDA 6b–10a.

What birds does Ocotillo attract in Texas?

In Texas, Ocotillo supports 10 backyard birds, including Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Anna's Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird.

Does Ocotillo help nesting birds in Texas?

9 of those birds nest in Texas: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (March–August), Baltimore Oriole (April–July), Orchard Oriole (April–June), Black-chinned Hummingbird (March–July).

Which winter birds use Ocotillo in Texas?

Winter visitors Anna's Hummingbird use it in Texas during the cold months.

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.