Light: Full sun to light shade; in Phoenix, provide afternoon shade from intense summer sun, especially for young or container-grown plants. Acclimate gradually to stronger light.
Water: Low water; water deeply only after soil dries completely during warm weather. Reduce watering substantially in cool weather and keep nearly dry during cold spells.
Soil: Sharply draining, mineral-rich cactus soil with pumice, gravel, or coarse sand. Use raised beds or containers with drainage holes where native soil drains poorly.
Mature size: Typically 10–20 feet tall and 4–8 feet wide when branching in favorable frost-free conditions; usually smaller in containers or Phoenix gardens exposed to cold.
Bloom: Mature plants may bloom during warm months; flowering is uncommon on young or container-grown specimens.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen succulent with persistent photosynthetic stems and no conspicuous leaves.
Growth rate: Moderate to relatively fast for a columnar cactus with warmth and appropriate watering; slow during cool weather.