Ocotillo is not a true cactus. For much of the year  the plant appears to be an arrangement of large spiny dead sticks  although closer examination reveals that the stems are partly green. With rainfall  the plant quickly becomes lush with small leaves  which may remain for weeks or even months. The bright crimson flowers appear especially after rainfall in spring  summer  and occasionally fall. Flowers are clustered at the tips of each mature stem and are pollinated by hummingbirds and native carpenter bees.Planting ocotillo can be done year-around with care. They should be planted to the original growing depth and  as with cacti  in their original directional orientation: the original south side of the plant  which has become more heat- and sunlight-resistant  should again face the brighter  hotter southern direction. Ocotillo plants prefer well-drained  sandy or gravely loam soil with low to moderate amounts of organic content. Ideal locations are sunny  open  unrestricted and those where surface water does not collect. Transplanted plants require irrigation to become established  but once established  they can survive on 8 inches of rainfall per year.Individual ocotillo stems are sometimes used as poles as a fencing material in their native region  and often take root to form a living fence. Fresh flowers are sometimes used in salads and have a tangy flavor. Flowers are collected  dried  and used for tisanes.