What is a desert candle?

Also known as Foxtail Lily, the desert candle is a cactus plant that originally comes from Asia. It now flourishes in other parts of the world, while the desert areas of the United States are among the most famous places to find this particular flowering plant. The desert candle is one of the most popular members of the Brassicaceae family of annual plants. Its scientific name is Caulanthus inflatus, but derives its common name from its erect shape and a flowering tip that resembles a long, decorated with a candle. Bloome during spring and can grow as high as 8 feet (2.44 m). Like other succulents, these flowering plants retain water, which is a way they are able to survive high desert temperatures. These years also require a lot of direct sunlight and are a popular choice for the boundaries of the desert garden as well as freshly cut floral Arrarancements.

While most flowering plants are unable to withstand intense temperatures, succulents and cactus storage of moisture in special BUn and tissues placed throughout the plant. Some store water into leaves, roots, flowers and stem. The desert candle retains its humidity especially in its stems and flowers and it is even known to survive a long period of drought.

purple flowers grow along the green-yellow hollow stems of this unique plant. The base of each flower is white and green leaves also grow on the base of the plant. The only purple flower is decorated with the tip itself. Some types of desert candles, including Foxtail hybrid lilies, come in a number of live colors such as red, gold and orange.

Although it is not an edible plant, the desert candle is sometimes referred to as squaw-cabbage. Member of the Mustard family, it is also a relative of edible leaf plants of drought such as kale, turnip and mustard. While these other important members of the Brassicaceae family are grown for food use, this particular plant is usually grownfor decoration.

The desert candle can only be reproduced from the cut -outs of the trunk of another plant. Its flowers do not produce seeds and are therefore completely sterile. Although it is popular in desert gardens, contact with a desert candle can irritate in some allergic reaction.