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 (2–4 cm), ovate leaves, which may remain for weeks or even months.

Individual stems may reach a diameter of 5 cm at the base, and the plant may grow to a height of 10 m (33 ft).

The bright crimson flowers appear especially after rainfall in spring, summer, and occasionally fall.

Ocotillo occurs in desert regions of southwestern United States through central Mexico.