Grow boojum in full sun on ground that drains. Water it in the cool months, and keep an in-ground plant dry in summer. Boojum is Fouquieria columnaris, also called cirio.
Give it full sun and draining ground, and water in the cool months
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun; afternoon shade for a small plant in the hottest weeks | Do not site a mature plant in deep shade |
| Soil | Sandy or granitic ground that drains, on a slope or mound | Do not plant it in a basin that holds summer rain |
| Water | Water from September through May; keep an in-ground plant dry in summer | Do not keep the roots wet while the plant is leafless in summer |
| Frost | Cover a plant under about a foot when frost will drop below 25°F | Do not leave a seedling uncovered on a hard freeze night |
boojum tree is a cool-season tree. Leaves come on around September. Water an in-ground plant about every two to three weeks while it is in leaf, from September through May, and skip extra water once the leaves drop in late spring. [1] [2] Wet roots in summer are the usual cause of rot, especially on a larger plant. Do not sit it at the bottom of a watering basin. [3] A small plant can take afternoon shade in the hottest weeks. A mature plant wants an open sky. [4] ocotillo is the whip-cane shrub in this catalog — see How to Grow Ocotillo.
When do I water a boojum?
Water from September through May, about every two to three weeks in the ground while it is in leaf. Keep an in-ground plant dry in summer.
Does a boojum want a dry summer?
Yes. Leaves drop in late spring, and the plant rests. Extra water around the roots in summer causes rot.
Set a young plant on a mound that drains
Set a nursery plant on a slope or a low mound so summer rain runs off. Dig a hole no deeper than the roots. Backfill with the sandy soil you dug, or a gritty mix, and do not add compost. Cover a plant under about a foot if frost will drop below 25°F.
- Choose full sun on sandy ground that drains. A slope or mound is better than a low basin.
- Dig a hole as deep as the roots and a little wider. Fill it with water. If it still stands after an hour, pick a different site.
- Set the old soil line even with the mound. Backfill with sandy soil. Do not add compost.
- Water through the cool months. Cover a small plant on frost nights below 25°F. Do not prune the trunk.
How do I plant a young boojum?
Set it on a mound that drains, at the old soil line. Keep summer water off, and cover a small plant on a hard freeze night.
Not whip ocotillo — and not a cactus
Boojum is not whip ocotillo. ocotillo is a vase of canes from a crown — see How to Grow Ocotillo. Boojum is a single inverted-carrot trunk with short side twigs. It is not a cactus. Agave and yucca are different desert plants — see How to Grow Agave and How to Grow Yucca.
Is a boojum an ocotillo?
Both are Fouquieria. Ocotillo is the whip-cane shrub. Boojum is the inverted-carrot tree. It is not a cactus.
Set boojum in full sun on a mound that drains, water in the cool months, and keep summer water off.
FAQ
Can I grow a boojum in a pot?
A pot with a drain hole and a gritty cactus mix can hold a young plant. Water about once a week in the cool months, and every two weeks in summer. A landscape boojum belongs in the ground on a mound.
Can I grow a boojum from seed?
Seed is the usual nursery start, and it is slow. A named landscape plant is a nursery seedling, not a cutting from a whip ocotillo.
How cold can a small boojum take?
Cover a plant under about a foot when frost will drop below 25°F. A larger plant can take the low twenties. Do not leave a seedling uncovered on a hard freeze night.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Plants for the Southwest -
https://plantsforthesouthwest.com/care-sheets/boojum-care-sheet/ - [2] Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum -
https://www.desertmuseum.org/visit/sheets/Foucol.pdf - [3] Spadefoot Nursery -
https://www.spadefootnursery.com/fouquieria/boojum-tree-fouquieria-columnaris - [4] University of Arizona Campus Arboretum -
https://arboretum.arizona.edu/boojum
This note is part of Fouquieria Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors