Light: Full sun to light shade; in Phoenix, provide afternoon shade near heat-reflective walls and gradually acclimate nursery-grown plants to direct sun.
Water: Very low water once established. During hot, dry weather, water deeply but infrequently, allowing soil to dry completely between waterings. Keep mostly dry in winter and skip irrigation after substantial rain.
Soil: Excellent drainage is essential; use gravelly, sandy, or rocky soil. In heavy soil, plant on a raised mound or use a mineral-rich cactus mix in a container.
Mature size: Typically 1–2 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide, forming larger clumps with age.
Bloom: Blooms annually in spring, typically March through May in Phoenix; timing varies with weather and plant maturity.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen succulent; photosynthetic stems remain year-round, with no persistent foliage.
Growth rate: Slow.