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Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert Online Home | Plant Index | Glossary | Advanced Search | Trees | Shrubs | Groundcovers | Vines | Grasses | Cacti | Succulents | Perennials | Annuals

LOW-WATER CACTI
Cacti are true icons of the desert and help give our region its character and sense of place. Many have extraordinary flowers that bloom during warm periods of the year. They are extremely versatile and adaptable plants, accepting a wide range of growing conditions. Use individual specimens in the landscape for a dramatic statement, or mass several plants of one species to serve as a low-care groundcover. Most cacti also do well in containers. Because of their ability to store water, they require much less water than most landscape plants; but even cacti require an occasional irrigation-perhaps once or twice a month in summer. However, don’t overwater cacti, and plant them in soil that has good drainage.

Click the photo or [more info] link to get detailed information about each plant.

Common Name: Saguaro
Botanical Name: Carnegiea gigantea

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 18°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: very slow
Mature Size: 20' H X 10' W
Form: columnar
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: White showy
Flower Season: late spring
Litter: low
Thorns: long, gray spines
Allergenic: no
Wildlife: birds
Native to: Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Consider mature size. Red fruits are enjoyed by birds.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Hildmann's Cereus
Botanical Name: Cereus hildmannianus

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 24°F
Sun: full sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: fast
Mature Size: 15' H X 10' W
Form: columnar
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: blue-green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: White showy, blooms at night
Flower Season: spring to summer
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, gray spines
Allergenic: no
May be sold as Cereus peruvianus
Native to: Eastern South America
Other Features: Fast-growing substitute for organ pipe cactus.
Also try Stetsonia coryne.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Golden Barrel
Botanical Name: Echinocactus grusonii

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 18°F
Sun: full sun, partial sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: slow
Mature Size: 1-1/2' H X 2' W
Form: globe-shaped
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: yellow
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: long, golden spines
Allergenic: no
Native to: Mexico, southern Mexico
Other Features: Striking accent. Attractive in groupings.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Engelmann's Hedgehog
Botanical Name: Echinocereus engelmannii

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: full sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: slow
Mature Size: 1' H X 2' W
Form: clumping
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Magenta showy
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: long, brown spines
Allergenic: no
Native to: Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Vibrant spring color.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Compass Barrel
Botanical Name: Ferocactus cylindraceus

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: slow
Mature Size: 2' H X 1.5' W
Form: globe-shaped
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Yellow to orange
Flower Season: late spring to early summer
Litter: low
Thorns: long, red yellow spines
Allergenic: no
May be sold as Ferocactus acanthodes.
Native to: Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Good for naturalistic landscapes.
Also try F. herrerae and F. wislizenii.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Senita
Botanical Name: Lophocereus schottii

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 18°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: slow
Mature Size: 10' H X 10' W
Form: columnar
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: light green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: pink
Flower Season: late spring to summer
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, gray spines
Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Pachycereus schottii.
Native to: Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Flowers bloom at night on "furry" top regions of stems.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Totem Pole
Botanical Name: Lophocereus schottii f. monstrosus

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 20°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: slow
Mature Size: 10' H X 10' W
Form: columnar
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: light green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: pink
Flower Season: late spring to summer
Litter: low
Thorns: none
Allergenic: no
Native to: Baja California
Other Features: Particularly interesting for its sculptural quality.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Blue Myrtle Cactus
Botanical Name: Myrtillocactus goemetrizans

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 24°F
Sun: full sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 15' H X 10' W
Form: upright
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: blue-green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Small greenish-white
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, black spines
Allergenic: no
Native to: southern Mexico
Other Features: Can become treelike with age. Purple fruits follow flowers.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Buckhorn Cholla
Botanical Name: Opuntia acanthocarpa

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 4' H X 5' W
Form: shrublike
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Red to yellow
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, yellow spines
Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa.
Native to: Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Makes an effective security barrier.
Also try O. imbricata, O. spinosior, and O. versicolor.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Beavertail Prickly Pear
Botanical Name: Opuntia basilaris

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 1' H X 3' W
Form: low spreading
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: blue-gray
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Magenta to pink
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: small, brown spines
Allergenic: no
Native to: Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Vibrant spring color.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Engelmann's Prickly Pear
Botanical Name: Opuntia engelmannii

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 4' H X 8' W
Form: shrublike
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Yellow showy
Flower Season: spring to early summer
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, white-gray spines
Allergenic: no
Wildlife: birds
Native to: Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Large dark red fruits attract birds.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Indian Fig
Botanical Name: Opuntia ficus-indica

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 22°F
Sun: full sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 12' H X 18' W
Form: shrub or tree
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Yellow to orange, showy
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: usually none
Allergenic: no
Native to: Horticultural Selection
Other Features: Showy fruits. Treelike sculptural qualities.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Giant Prickly Pear
Botanical Name: Opuntia robusta

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 15°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 10' H X 10' W
Form: shrublike
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: blue-green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: yellow
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, whitish spines
Allergenic: no
Native to: central Mexico, Mexico, central Mexico
Other Features: Pads grow to 1 foot across. Large red fruit.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Purple Prickly Pear
Botanical Name: Opuntia santa-rita

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 4' H X 5' W
Form: shrublike
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: green-purple
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: yellow
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: small, tan spines
Allergenic: no
Native to: Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Cold or dry weather causes pads to take on striking purple color.
Also try O. macrocentra.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Mexican Fencepost
Botanical Name: Pachycereus marginatus

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 20°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: fast
Mature Size: 10' H X 6' W
Form: columnar
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: dark green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: pink
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, whitish spines
Allergenic: no
May be sold as Stenocereus marginatus
Native to: southern Mexico
Other Features: A bold dramatic accent. Good in containers.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Organ Pipe
Botanical Name: Stenocereus thurberi

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 22°F
Sun: full or reflected sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: slow
Mature Size: 10' H X 10' W
Form: columnar
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: olive-green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Pale pink, blooms at night
Flower Season: spring to summer
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, black spines
Allergenic: no
Native to: Sonoran Desert
Other Features: Striking focal point with time.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Spruce Cones
Botanical Name: Tephrocactus articulatus 'inermis'

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 15°F
Sun: full sun, partial sun
Water: very low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 1' H X 3' W
Form: sprawling
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: gray-green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: White to pink, small
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: none
Allergenic: no
Native to: Argentina
Other Features: Good container plant. Sculptural qualities.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Argentine Giant
Botanical Name: Trichocereus candicans

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: partial sun
Water: low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 2' H X 3' W
Form: sprawling
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: White showy, blooms at night
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: small, yellow spines
Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Echinopsis candicans.
Native to: Argentina
Other Features: Flowers are striking, 6" to 8" across, and are fragrant.
Also try Echinopsis multiplex
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Argentine Hedgehog
Botanical Name: Trichocereus huascha

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: full sun, partial sun
Water: low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 2' H X 3' W
Form: clumping
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: medium green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: Orange and red, showy
Flower Season: spring to summer
Litter: low
Thorns: small, yellow spines
Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Echinopsis huascha.
Native to: Argentina
Other Features: Some of the most spectacular flowers of all landscape cacti.
Look for selections that offer a wide range of flower colors.
[More information about this plant.]

Common Name: Cardon Grande
Botanical Name: Trichocereus terscheckii

[Plant Info Sheet]
Hardiness: 10°F
Sun: full sun
Water: low
Growth Rate: moderate
Mature Size: 15' H X 8' W
Form: treelike
E/D: evergreen
Foliage Color: light green
Foliage Texture:
Flower Color: White showy
Flower Season: spring
Litter: low
Thorns: medium, tan spines
Allergenic: no
Recently reclassified as Echinopsis terscheckii.
Native to: Argentina
Other Features: Similar to saguaro but grows faster and is smaller at maturity.
[More information about this plant.]



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ARIZONA MUNICIPAL WATER USERS ASSOCIATION
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The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA) is a voluntary, non-profit corporation established by municipalities in Maricopa County for the development of urban water resources policy.