Light: Full sun to light shade; provide afternoon shade for young plants in Phoenix and gradually acclimate nursery-grown plants to direct sun.
Water: Low water once established. Water deeply approximately every 2–4 weeks during hot, dry weather, allowing soil to dry thoroughly between waterings. Reduce watering during monsoon rains and keep nearly dry in winter.
Soil: Very well-drained sandy or gravelly soil. Use raised planting areas where drainage is poor and a fast-draining cactus mix in containers.
Mature size: Typically 15–30 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide in landscapes; potentially larger with age under favorable conditions.
Bloom: Large flowers appear on mature plants from late spring through summer, sometimes into fall; each flower opens at night and usually closes the following morning.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast for a columnar cactus; established plants may grow 1–2 feet per year with warmth and appropriate watering.