Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Cardon
Cardon is the Mexican giant cactus, the tallest cactus in the world, and it branches lower and thicker than a saguaro. In a yard it typically reaches 20 to 30 feet over many years, with long arching arms that make a bold focal point for a large desert landscape. In spring it opens white flowers near the stem tips, followed by red fruit. Once rooted it needs little water.
Best for: a giant focal point in a large desert landscape, open yards with room for its arms, and water-saving gardens.
It typically reaches 20 to 30 feet in a landscape, and wild plants grow far taller. Plant it only in a large desert yard where it has room to be the main feature.
Its arms start lower on the trunk than a saguaro's and arch upward. Plan for a spread of 15 to 20 feet, and keep it back from walkways.
Mature plants open white flowers near the stem tips in spring, and each flower lasts one night. Red fruit with pinkish flesh follows, and it is edible.
Young plants need light shade to avoid sunburn, and cover on frost nights. Soil that stays wet causes root rot. It is also too big for a small yard.
- Closer grouping12 ft apart
- Open planting12-20 ft apart
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.
Young cardons need light shade to prevent sunburn, much like a young saguaro. Plant it with the same side facing the sun as in the nursery, and move it into full sun as it matures.
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 tall does a cardon get?
It is the tallest cactus in the world. In landscapes it typically reaches 20 to 30 feet over many years, so plant it only where it has room.
How fast does cardon grow?
It grows at a slow to moderate pace, so buy a larger size if you want height sooner.
Cardon vs saguaro: what is the difference?
Cardon branches much lower on the trunk and grows thicker than a saguaro. It is native to Baja California and Sonora rather than Arizona.
Does a young cardon need shade?
Yes. Give young plants light shade to prevent sunburn, the same as a young saguaro, and move them into full sun as they mature.
How often should I water it?
It needs little water once rooted. A few deep waterings a month in summer keep it looking good, and it needs very little in winter.
Is cardon cold hardy?
Mature plants handle short cold snaps down to about 25 to 26°F. Protect young plants and new growth with frost cloth or foam cups on frost nights.
When does cardon bloom?
Mature plants bloom in spring, often in March. White flowers open near the tops of the stems, and each one lasts a single night.
Is the fruit edible?
Yes. The red fruit is about 2 inches wide with pinkish red flesh and black seeds. It has been used for jellies.
What soil does cardon need?
Plant it in fast-draining soil, since soil that stays wet causes root rot. If you hit caliche, dig through it so the hole drains.
Does it have spines?
Yes, up to 2 inches long on young stems, though older stems can lose them. Keep it back from walkways and play areas.
Cardon for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Cardon, also called Mexican giant cardon, elephant cactus or Baja saguaro, is the tallest cactus in the world. It grows slowly into a massive branched column for large desert yards. Below are answers to the questions Valley homeowners ask before planting one.
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How big does a cardon cactus get in Arizona?
Cardon typically reaches 20 to 30 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide in a landscape, so it is best for large desert yards.
What is the difference between cardon and saguaro?
Cardon branches lower and grows thicker than a saguaro. It comes from Baja California and Sonora rather than Arizona.
How often do you water a cardon in the Valley?
Water a few times a month in summer and very little in winter. Soil that stays wet causes root rot, so plant it where water drains.
Do young cardons need frost protection?
Yes. Mature cardons handle short cold snaps to about 25 to 26°F, but young plants and new tips need cover on frost nights.
Does cardon flower and fruit?
Yes. Mature plants bloom in spring with white flowers near the stem tips, followed by edible red fruit.
Does a young cardon need shade?
Young cardons need light shade to avoid sunburn, then full sun as they mature. When planting, keep the same side facing the sun as in the nursery.
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