Mexican giant cardón Pachycereus pringlei
Mexican giant cardón (Pachycereus pringlei) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Cactaceae family, native to Baja California and Sonora. It grows 8–18 m (26–59 ft) tall and 3–6 m (10–20 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 5 m (16 ft) apart.
Plan Mexican giant cardón in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Mexican giant cardón at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Mature height | 8–18 m (26–59 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–6 m (10–20 ft) |
| Spacing | 5 m (16 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 8 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6.5–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 50 °C (122 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: fruit, seeds |
| Native to | Baja California and Sonora |
| Common in gardens of | 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Mexican giant cardón toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not toxic; spiny.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Mexican giant cardón
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Mexican giant cardón in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (2 plants)
- Desert Botanical Garden (1 plants)
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (2 plants)
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (2 plants)
Questions about Mexican giant cardón
- How far apart should I plant Mexican giant cardón?
- About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).
- Does Mexican giant cardón need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 8 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Mexican giant cardón need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Mexican giant cardón?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- Is Mexican giant cardón poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not toxic; spiny.
- What grows well with Mexican giant cardón?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Mexican giant cardón. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Desert Botanical Garden plant collections and trails, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
Notes and assumptions
- Desert plant: needs sharp drainage and little summer water once established; rots in wet, heavy soil.
- The tallest cactus (record 19.2 m), branching low into massive columns; specimen in The Huntington's Desert Garden.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Prickly pear (nopal) Opuntia ficus-indica
- Golden barrel cactus Echinocactus grusonii
- Saguaro Carnegiea gigantea
- Fishhook barrel cactus Ferocactus wislizeni
- Teddy-bear cholla Cylindropuntia bigelovii
- Engelmann's prickly pear Opuntia engelmannii
- Organ pipe cactus Stenocereus thurberi
- Dragon fruit (pitaya) Selenicereus undatus