Cactus
Totem Pole Cactus
Pachycereus schottii f. monstrosus · Cactaceae
Also called: Totem Pole, Totem Pole Senita
Totem Pole Cactus (Pachycereus schottii f. monstrosus) is a low-water cactus well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a slow-growing cactus.
Totem Pole Cactus at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun to light afternoon shade; tolerates reflected heat once established but young plants appreciate some afternoon shade.
- Mature size
- 10-12 ft H x 4-6 ft W (slow; often kept smaller in landscapes)
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom
- Pink to pale rose (rarely flowers in the monstrose form), Late spring to summer; flowering is sparse and uncommon on monstrose plants, which are grown for their sculptural form rather than bloom.
- Cold hardiness
- Tender; hardy to about 25-28F (USDA zone 9b-10). Damaged by hard frost and benefits from frost protection in cold Tucson microclimates.
- Soil
- Sharply draining, gritty or sandy soil; intolerant of heavy, poorly drained clay. Thrives in lean, rocky desert soils.
- Native range
- Monstrose cultivated form of Pachycereus schottii (Senita), which is native to Baja California and Sonora, Mexico; the monstrose totem-pole form originated in cultivation and is not found wild in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona.
- Best used as
- Striking vertical accent and specimen plant, Container and patio focal point, Spineless cactus for areas near walkways where spines are undesirable, Sculptural feature in xeriscape and rock gardens
- Wildlife
- Of limited wildlife value in the monstrose form; the parent species (Senita) supports the senita moth pollinator and provides cover, but the totem-pole form rarely flowers or fruits.
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic; spineless and considered safe around people and pets, though the knobby stems can be bruised easily.
How to grow Totem Pole Cactus in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water deeply but infrequently once established, roughly every 2-4 weeks in the hottest summer months and monthly or less in spring/fall; withhold water in winter. Overwatering and poor drainage cause rot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Generally not needed in landscape soils; a single light application of dilute, low-nitrogen cactus fertilizer in spring is sufficient for container or accelerated growth.
Pruning & care
No routine pruning needed; remove only damaged, sunburned, or rotting segments with a clean knife. Cut surfaces should be allowed to callus before any propagation.
Notes
Accepted name is Pachycereus schottii f. monstrosus (formerly Lophocereus schottii f. monstrosus). Prized for its smooth, spineless, bumpy, undulating columns. More frost-sensitive than most native Tucson cacti, so site in a warm microclimate or near a south/west wall; protect from hard freezes.
Sources: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Tohono Chul; Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (Plants of the World Online) for nomenclature