Two years back I needed to replace my dead ocotillo so I purchased a new ocotillo from Summerwinds that never came to life and was dead. I saved my receipt and Summerwinds said I could have a new ocotillo. All these ocotillos where behind the wall behind the nursery and they all looked dead (it looked like a trash area for dead and sick plants) but the salesman assured me that they were alive. My second one from Summerwinds never came to life as well. Yesterday I went back to Summerwinds to possibly get my third or second replacement from Summerwinds but again all the ocotillos where behind the wall I guess waiting for Jesus to revive them. I did look at a few other nursery's and the hippy boy at the nursery near 17 at least was honest and said he didn't know if his ocotillos were alive or dead none had signs of life. The ocotillos at one of the moon valley locations were the same and half priced.
I didn't give Summerwinds one star for the ocotillo experience although they deserve it. Most plants they sell are nice and I would shop here for a lantana or something like that. The three stars is more than fair.
It seems like you most likely will get STUCK with a dead ocotillo unless you give someone a B.J. at most nurseries around here.