Light: Full sun to light shade. Acclimate nursery-grown plants gradually to Phoenix sun; young plants benefit from light afternoon shade.
Water: Low water once established. Water deeply but infrequently during hot, dry weather, allowing soil to dry completely between waterings. Keep mostly dry in winter.
Soil: Very well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil. Use raised planting areas where drainage is poor; avoid water-retentive soil and standing water.
Mature size: Typically 10–15 feet tall and 6–10 feet wide; very old specimens can reach about 20 feet tall.
Bloom: Flowers intermittently from late spring through summer on mature stems; young plants may take many years to bloom.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen cactus with persistent green stems and no showy foliage.
Growth rate: Slow to moderate in warm weather, depending on water availability and growing conditions.