How to Grow and Care for Pachycereus

Hairbrush is a famous and picturesque cactus native to Mexico that grows 7 to 15 m tall. In some parts of Mexico, hairbrush is pollinated during the night by nectar-feeding bats. The fruit of hairbrush is edible and it was often used as food by the Maya people. They also used the fruit as a comb, hence the common name.

Senita Cactus (Pachycereus schottii) is a large, relatively rare cactus species that grows throughout the arid deserts of the American southwest. The senita Cactus originates in Baja California. This species has a beneficial relationship with the senita moth, which pollinates the cactus and eats the flowers during its larval stage.

The mexican giant cactus has tall columns that can grow to an impressive 20 m, making it the largest of all cacti. Its white flowers are unusual, opening in the late afternoon and then closing in the morning to protect them from the afternoon heat. Despite its size, this cactus can grow on bare rock because of its symbiotic relationship with bacteria.

As its name implies, the mexican fence post cactus can grow quite tall; it can grow up to 15 meters in the wild and 5 meters in cultivation. In landscaping, this cactus is often used as a fence or a barrier. In the wild, it can hold large amounts of water, helping small animals and even humans to rehydrate in the desert.