Cistanche tubulosa, commonly referred to as Desert Hyacinth, is a holoparasitic perennial herb that lacks chlorophyll and is native to arid regions in Northern Africa and the Middle East, especially the Arabian Peninsula. It parasitizes the roots of host plants, particularly those in the Tamaricaceae family, to obtain water and nutrients. This plant typically grows to a height of 10-40 cm. It features a fleshy, erect stem with scales instead of leaves and produces tubular, yellow to reddish flowers that are clustered in a spike-like inflorescence, blooming from April to June. The flowers are not particularly showy but are interesting due to their unique parasitic nature.

Desert Hyacinth is not commonly cultivated but is valued for its medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is known as ròucongróng. It is harvested in the spring before the plant sprouts. In cultivation, it would require a host plant and sandy, well-drained soils in an environment that mimics its desert habitat. It is not suitable for general garden use due to its parasitic lifestyle and specialized growing requirements. However, it may be of interest to botanical gardens or for research purposes.CC BY-SA 4.0