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Pachycereus pringlei
BAJA SAGUARO
Especially if measured by weight and volume, this is certainly the largest of all of the cactus plants. It can attain heights of 60 feet and weigh thousands of pounds with its heavy branches. Of course, a person planting one now would never live long enough to see it grow anywhere near that size. The beauty of this plant for the cactus person is that it mimics the form of the Arizona Saguaro that everybody would love to have in their cactus garden. However, the latter will barely grow (if at all) in the cooler climates of the coastal plain. The Baja Saguaro will grow up to a 1 1/2 feet a year, even in cooler conditions. And in the hot deserts, it is much faster than the Saguaro. I've seen plants as young as 10 to 15 years old start to branch, and produce that traditional "Saguaro" look. Even a single stemmed individual that is 6 feet tall may weigh two hundred or more pounds! Full sun; appreciates extra fertilizer and water during warm (hot) growing season; hardy to low 20s if freeze is brief.
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