General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Dry Mesic
Dry
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Plant Height: 30 to 40 feet
Plant Spread: 4 to 6 feet
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Fruiting Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Flowers: Showy
Nocturnal
Flower Color: Red
Bloom Size: 2"-3"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth

Image
Common names
  • Cone Cactus
  • Golden Saguaro
  • Golden-Spined Saguaro
  • Wax Cactus
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Cephalocereus polylophus
  • Synonym: Neobuxbaumia polylopha
  • Synonym: Carnegiea polylopha

Photo Gallery
Location: Puebla
Date: 2022-12-03
Location: San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-04
Location: Pinya del Rosa Botanical garden
Date: 22 April 2019
Location: Botanical Garden 'Botanicactus' - Mallorca
Date: 2010-11-06
Location: Nationale Plantentuin Meise (Meise Botanical Garden)
Date: 2024-01-24
Location: Queretaro, Mexico
Date: 2016-12-14
Location: Botanical Garden 'Botanicactus' - Mallorca
Date: 2010-11-06
Location: Botanical Garden 'Botanicactus' - Mallorca
Date: 2010-11-06
Location: Botanical Garden of Berlin
Date: 2012-07-23
Uploaded by skopjecollection
Location: Jardin_des_Plantes_de_Paris
Date: 2011-10-17
Photo courtesy of: Tangopaso

Date: 2011-08-19
Photo courtesy of: Peter A. Mansfeld

Date: 2015-02-25
Photo courtesy of: KENPEI

Date: 2008-08-27
Photo courtesy of: Aangelo

Date: 2008-07-03
Photo courtesy of: Cillas

Date: 2007-09-11
Photo courtesy of: Michael Wolf
Location: Pinya del Rosa Botanical garden
Location: Pinya del Rosa Botanical garden
Location: Pinya del Rosa Botanical garden
Location: Pinya del Rosa Botanical garden
Date: 2019-04-22
Location: Botanical Garden 'Botanicactus' - Mallorca
Date: 2013-12-06
Location: Botanical Garden of Barcelona
Date: 2013-10-27
Location: Orto Botanico di Cagliari - Sardinia
Date: 2017-09-10
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Sep 9, 2019 5:48 PM concerning plant:
    Extra large, tree-like columnar cactus from central Mexico with dark red, nocturnal flowers in summer. Green stems to 20 inches in diameter with 10-30 narrow ribs, 0-1 central spine, 7-8 radial spines (yellow to brown, fading to gray with age). Older plants can be spectacular. This is one of a handful of species in this genus which has historically been associated with and subsumed within Carnegiea (the monotypic genus of the saguaro).

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by eclayne and is called "Astilbe Color Flash Lime"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.