Care of the tree Fouquieria columnaris or Boojum tree |
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The genus Fouquieria, family Fouquieriaceae, comprises 11 species of shrubs and trees native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. Some species are: Fouquieria columnaris, Fouquieria fasciculata, Fouquieria splendens, Fouquieria formosa. Common names: Boojum tree, Cirio. This species is native to the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. They are curious plants of arboreal bearing and thick stem of almost 1 meter (3.28 feet) in diameter and 25 meters (83 feet) in height. Sometimes they branch into several main stems but always have small secondary branches 50 cm (19.68") long arranged in a spiral. They have two types of leaves: some arise from the lateral branches and are oval, narrow and 2 cm (0.78") long and the others are very small (0.5 cm/0.19") and appear in the axils of the first. The flowers are yellow, bell-shaped and appear in corymbs. These slow-growing plants are used as isolated specimens in dry areas of the garden and in cactus and succulent gardens. The Fouquieria columnaris can be grown in a light shade or full sun exposure. They resist occasional frosts down to -5 ºC (23 ºF). The soil can be a mixture of 1/3 leaf mulch or sphagnum peat, 1/3 coarse sand, and 1/3 garden substrate. Water moderately waiting for the substrate to be completely dry. If the winter is very dry, it may lose leaves but it will sprout again in spring. They do not need special fertilizers. They can be pruned in late winter to remove dry branches. They are plants resistant to pests and diseases but sensitive to excess watering. They propagate easily from seeds sown in spring but it's a slow process. |
Images of the tree Fouquieria columnaris or Boojum tree |
 Fouquieria columnaris  Fouquieria fasciculata  Fouquieria fasciculata  Fouquieria splendens  Fouquieria splendens |