Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Hybrid Argentine Cactus
This Argentine cactus is a torch cactus, a Trichocereus cross from Argentine parents, grown for its enormous flowers. Clusters of stems grow to about 2 feet tall before they lean and sprawl. Big blooms in bright reds, pinks, oranges or yellows can reach 8 inches across. A big plant can open dozens at once for a few days each year. It likes more water than native cacti and some afternoon shade.
Best for: a flowering accent under the east edge of a desert tree, large patio pots, and cactus beds that get regular summer water.
Torch cactus flowers come in bright color mixes and can reach 8 inches across. A big plant can open 50 or more at once for two or three days, then a few more on and off for weeks.
The ideal spot is the east edge of a thin desert tree canopy, like palo verde or mesquite. It needs at least 4 to 5 hours of direct sun to flower.
It does best in the ground but grows well in a large pot, at least 14 inches across for a mature clump. The stems make an accent even out of bloom.
Full afternoon sun is hard on it, most of all in its first summer. It wants more water than Arizona native cacti, so it does poorly in a dry, unwatered bed.
- Group planting4 ft apart
- Open planting or single specimen6 ft apart
Wait about a week after planting before the first water. Then water about weekly from April to October, or every two weeks at least, and much less in winter.
Feed it two or three times a year in the growing season for the most flowers.
Give it light afternoon shade and at least 4 to 5 hours of direct sun. Shade the west side with a few desert shrub branches in its first summer.
It is very cold tolerant, and cool winter nights may help it set buds. Cover young plants with frost cloth in a hard freeze.
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.
What color are the flowers?
Torch cactus crosses bloom in a wide range of bright reds, pinks, oranges, yellows and blends. Flowers can reach 8 inches across.
When does it bloom?
It puts on a big flush of flowers two or three days a year. Then it opens one or two at a time on and off for several more weeks.
How big does it get?
Clusters of stems grow to about 2 feet tall, then lean and sprawl along the ground as the clump widens.
Does it need full sun?
Light afternoon shade is best in the Valley, such as the east edge of a desert tree. It still needs at least 4 to 5 hours of direct sun to flower.
How often should I water it?
Water about once a week from April to October for the best growth and flowers, or every two weeks at the least. It wants more water than native cacti.
Should I fertilize it?
Yes. Feed it two or three times a year during the growing season.
How cold can it take?
Torch cactus crosses are very cold tolerant, and cool winter nights may even help them set flower buds. Cover young plants in a hard freeze.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, in a large pot at least 14 inches across for a mature clump, with a fast-draining mix. It does even better in the ground.
How do I protect it the first summer?
Shade it from afternoon sun. A few desert broom or creosote branches on the west side are enough.
Hybrid Argentine Cactus for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
This Argentine cactus is a Trichocereus torch cactus cross with Trichocereus grandiflorus in its parentage. This page covers flowers, size, sun, water, feeding, cold and pots in the Valley.
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.
What is this Argentine torch cactus?
It is a Trichocereus torch cactus cross with Argentine parents, grown for huge, bright flowers.
Torch cactus flowers
Blooms up to 8 inches across open in a big flush a few days a year, with more on and off for weeks.
Best spot in Phoenix
Morning sun and light afternoon shade, like the east edge of a palo verde or mesquite.
Watering a torch cactus
About weekly from April to October. It wants more water than native cacti.
Torch cactus in a pot
Use a pot at least 14 inches across and a fast-draining mix. It grows even better in the ground.
Is it cold hardy?
Yes. Torch cactus crosses take hard cold, and cool nights may help them bloom.
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.