Light: Full sun once established; acclimate gradually to Phoenix sun. Young plants benefit from light afternoon shade during extreme summer heat.
Water: Low water; water deeply but infrequently during warm weather, allowing soil to dry completely between waterings. Keep nearly dry in winter; avoid watering cold or wet soil.
Soil: Very well-drained, gritty or gravelly soil. In heavy soil, plant on a raised mound; use a fast-draining cactus mix in containers.
Mature size: Approximately 15–25 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide with age; usually smaller in containers.
Bloom: Mature plants bloom in late spring through summer; young or container-grown plants may take many years to flower.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen; photosynthetic stems remain year-round, with no persistent leaves.
Growth rate: Slow, especially when young; somewhat faster with established roots and appropriate warm-season watering.