Pachycereus Pringlei Cactus Plant

Mexican giant cardon

Family

Cactacaea

Native

Mexico

Description

Pachycereus Pringlei is the tallest living cactus in the world, with a maximum recorded height of 19.2 m (63 ft ), with a stout trunk up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in diameter bearing several erect branches. In overall appearance, it resembles the related saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea), but differs in being more heavily branched and having branching nearer the base of the stem, fewer ribs on the stems, blossoms located lower along the stem, differences in areoles and spination, and spinier fruit.

Its flowers are white, large, nocturnal, and appear along the ribs as opposed to only apices of the stems.

Environment

Pachycereus pringlei is a desert native, and should always be planted in full sun. Soil should be well drained. For immature plants, water only occasionally in the fall, winter, and early spring; in the hotter months, water regularly, but do not let the soil remain consistently wet. Mature plants do not need to be watered. 

In mid-spring, feed with a diluted all-purpose fertilizer or one formulated for cactus and succulents.

Landscape Uses

Usually these are outdoor plant, well suited to desert gardening and xeriscaping.