Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Blue Myrtle Cactus
Blue myrtle cactus grows into a branching, candelabra-shaped cactus with powdery blue-green stems. It grows slowly, often staying shorter in Phoenix than its full 15 feet, and makes a strong accent or focal point. In spring it opens small creamy white flowers that turn into sweet, edible dark red fruit. It handles full sun and reflected heat on occasional water.
Best for: a blue-green focal point in a cactus garden, a tall silhouette in front of a light wall, and large containers in full sun.
It branches heavily into a blue-green candelabra up to 15 feet tall, though it often stays shorter in Phoenix. Use it as the focal point of a cactus or rock garden.
Set it in front of a light-colored wall to show off its shape. It handles full sun and the reflected heat off walls and paving.
It grows slowly and works as an accent in a large container. Plants in pots need a bit more water than plants in the ground.
Frost below about 25°F can scar the branches, so cover tips on cold nights. Soggy soil causes the roots to rot. A newly planted cactus can sunburn in its first summer.
- Group planting6-10 ft apart
- From the property line7 ft
Wait about a week after planting before the first water. Then water every other week while nights stay above 60°F. In cooler weather, water only after two to four weeks without rain.
Water deeply in the warm months only when the soil is dry, and give little or none in winter. Plants in pots dry out faster and need water more often than plants in the ground.
Plant it with the same side facing the sun as in the nursery. Cover a new plant with light shade cloth its first summer, then remove it.
Below about 25°F, frost can scar the stem tips. Cover the tips with foam cups or frost cloth that reaches the ground, not plastic. Take covers off in the morning.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does blue myrtle cactus get?
It can reach 15 feet tall, with a spread that can match its height over many years, though in Phoenix it often stays shorter. Give it open space as a focal point.
How fast does it grow?
It is a slow grower. It takes years to become large, so buy the size you want to see.
Is the fruit edible?
Yes. The small oblong fruit ripens deep red to blue and is very sweet. Pick it when it is fully colored.
When does blue myrtle cactus bloom?
It blooms in early spring, often around March, once it is about 2 feet tall. The small creamy white flowers are fragrant and last a day, and fruit follows.
Can it take full sun and reflected heat?
Yes. It handles full sun and reflected heat. Light shade from desert trees on the west side is fine too.
How often should I water it?
It is drought resistant but likes occasional water, especially in summer. Let the soil dry between waterings and water very little in winter.
Is blue myrtle cactus cold hardy?
It is hardy only to about 24 to 25°F. Colder nights can scar the branches, so cover the tips with frost cloth or foam cups.
Will a new plant sunburn?
It can in its first summer after planting. Keep the same side facing the sun and use light shade cloth that first summer.
Does it have spines?
Yes. Short, stiff spines sit in small clusters along the ribs, so keep it back from walkways and play areas.
Can I grow it from a cutting?
Yes. Cuttings root easily, but only in warm to hot weather, so take and plant them in late spring or summer.
What soil does it need?
It needs soil that drains fast. Soggy ground causes the roots to rot. If you hit caliche, dig through it so the hole drains.
Blue Myrtle Cactus for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Blue myrtle cactus, also called blue candle, is a Mexican cactus that branches into a blue-green candelabra. It is grown for its color and shape, and for its small sweet fruit. This page answers the questions Valley homeowners ask most about growing it.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Blue myrtle cactus size in Phoenix
It can reach 15 feet tall and just as wide over many years, but often stays shorter in Phoenix. It grows slowly into a branched candelabra.
Blue myrtle cactus fruit
Small creamy white flowers in early spring turn into oblong fruit that ripens deep red to blue. The fruit is very sweet and edible.
Blue myrtle cactus for reflected heat
It handles full sun and reflected heat off walls and paving. It looks striking in front of a light-colored wall.
Watering blue myrtle cactus
Give it occasional water, a bit more in summer, and very little in winter. Fast-draining soil keeps the roots from rotting.
Frost and blue myrtle cactus
It is hardy to about 24 to 25°F. Below that the branches can scar, so cover the tips with frost cloth or foam cups on cold nights.
Blue myrtle vs crested blue myrtle
The regular form grows into a tall, branched candelabra. The crested form grows wavy fans instead of round columns and stays much smaller.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.