Light: Full sun once acclimated; provide young or newly transplanted specimens temporary protection from intense Phoenix afternoon sun.
Water: Low water once established. Water deeply but infrequently during warm weather, allowing soil to dry thoroughly between waterings. Keep mostly dry in winter.
Soil: Very well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil. Plant on a raised mound if drainage is poor; avoid low spots and frequently irrigated beds.
Mature size: Typically 30–60 feet tall and 15–30 feet wide over many decades; exceptionally old specimens can grow larger.
Bloom: Spring to early summer on mature plants; flowering generally takes many years and may require decades from seed.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen succulent with persistent green stems and no conventional foliage.
Growth rate: Slow to moderate in warm conditions with occasional deep watering; slower under very dry conditions.