Pachycereus Species, Senita Cactus, Totem Pole Cactus
Pachycereus schottii f. monstrosus
Family: | Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Pachycereus (pak-ee-KER-ee-us) (Info) |
Species: | schottii f. monstrosus |
Synonym: | Lophocereus schottii var. monstrosus |
Synonym: | Cereus schottii var. monstrosus |
Synonym: | Pilocereus schottii var. monstrosus |
Synonym: | Lophocereus schottii f. monstrose |

Category:
Cactus and Succulents
Water Requirements:
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Foliage:
Foliage Color:
Height:
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Spacing:
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From woody stem cuttings
From softwood cuttings
Allow cut surface to callous over before planting
Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Gilbert, Arizona
Goodyear, Arizona
Green Valley, Arizona
Oracle, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona(2 reports)
Queen Creek, Arizona
San Manuel, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona(2 reports)
Clovis, California
Hayward, California
Riverside, California
San Diego, California
Thousand Oaks, California
Metairie, Louisiana
Henderson, Nevada
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
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Positive | On Feb 12, 2015, poeciliopsis from Phoenix, AZ wrote: Central Phoenix -- Totem pole cactus is a great garden plant for Phoenix, whatever taxonomy you adhere to (see Xenomorf comment). I have several plants from partial shade to full sun and every-other-week summer water to little water in addition to natural precipitation. All of them do well. Unlike some columnar cacti, totem pole puts out arms sparingly, so it retains a relatively narrow footprint. I have used Styrofoam caps on small plants, but not on larger ones, and over a 25-year period I have never experienced freeze damage on my totem pole cacti. |
Positive | On Sep 11, 2004, Xenomorf from Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9b) wrote: Other synonyms include: Cereus schottii f. monstrose, Pilocereus schottii f. monstrose, Cereus sargentianus var. monstrosus, Cereus sargentianus f. monstrose, Pilocereus sargentianus var. monstrosus, Pilocereus sargentianus f. monstrose, Lophocereus sargentianus var. monstrosus, Lophocereus sargentianus f. monstrose, Cereus schottii var. australis f. monstrose, Pilocereus schottii var. australis f. monstrose, Lophocereus australis var. monstrosus, Lophocereus australis f. monstrose, Lophocereus schottii var. australias f. monstrose, Cereus mieckleyanus var. monstrosus, Cereus mieckleyanus f. monstrose, Lemaireocereus mieckleyanus var. monstrosus, Lemaireocereus mieckleyanus f. monstrose, Lophocereus mieckleyanus var. monstrosus, Lophocereus mieckleyanus f. monstrose, Lophocereus schotti... read more |