Cactus & Succulents
Embrace the Southwest with Succulents
When people think of the desert, they typically think of succulents. Cacti, agave, Aloe Vera, and others can bring a Southwestern flair to your Tucson home or business. Explore Horticulture Unlimited’s collection of succulents to discover how you can beautify your home with these low-maintenance plants.
*Our plant guide provides informational resources regarding plants that we commonly use. We obtain necessary materials for installation purposes only, and recommend consulting a nursery or supplier for direct purchasing needs.
HORTICULTURE UNLIMITED IS NOT A NURSERY OR SUPPLIER.
**The scientific names of plants may periodically change. While we attempt to update our Plant Guide to reflect this, there may still be multiple names found for these plants in other directories.
Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Eve’s NeedleThe branching, tree-like specimen grows to thirteen feet tall and about ten feet wide, with cylindrical deep green leaves. New…
This plant is fast-growing once established and requires minimal care. It is hardy from twenty-five to thirty degrees Fahrenheit. If…
Carnegiea gigantea
Saguaro CactusThis giant monarch cactus grows to fifty feet or more with a large spread, depending on how many arms it…
This plant is hardy to about fourteen degrees Fahrenheit and likes full sun with reflected heat. It is drought-resistant and…
Cephalocereus senilis
Old Man CactusThe slow-growing cactus reaches about twenty feet or more in its native habitat, producing many columnar stems that are usually un-branched…
It enjoys well-draining soil and full sun, but prefers light afternoon shade. Bright sunlight encourages the growth of hair. Provide…
Cereus peruvianus f. monstrose
Peruvian AppleThe cactus is admired for its knobby branches, flowers that open at night and red, apple-like fruit. It is a…
The plant grows in full sun to partial shade and does best in sandy soils that are well-draining. It likes…
Cereus repandus
Night Blooming CereusThe cactus is admired for its knobby branches, flowers that open at night and red, apple-like fruit. It is a moderate…
The plant grows in full sun to partial shade and does best in sandy soils that are well-draining. It likes…
Cleistocactus strausii
Silver Torch CactusThis striking cactus develops slender columns up to eight to ten feet tall. It is a vigorous grower that has…
This showy plant grows quickly during the summer with supplemental irrigation, but is generally drought-resistant. The silver torch likes to…
Crassula ovata
Jade PlantJade plant is noted for its interesting green, oval-shaped succulent foliage that grows out from a multi-branching trunk. The shrub…
The jade plant grows best in filtered sun to partial shade, and may sunburn if planted in reflected sun. It…
Echinocactus grusonii
Golden Barrel CactusThe golden barrel cactus has a globe-like appearance and is recognized by its magnificent color that comes from vertical yellow…
This cactus is drought-resistant, so water it once per month during the warm, dry season. It does not need any…
Echinopsis hybrid
Easter Lily CactusThis fast-growing group of cacti varies in size, from small, low-growing globular plants to large, branching, columnar specimens. Some of…
The Easter lily cactus can take up to four years to produce flowers if planted from seed. The flowers are…
Echinopsis peruviana
San Pedro MachoThis species is closely related to Echinopsis pachanoi and the two are sometimes confused with each other. The columnar Echinopsis…
The plant likes full sun to partial shade and is drought-resistant. It prefers occasional water during the hot, dry season…
Echinopsis spachiana
Golden TorchThe golden torch is a beautiful, multi-stem, columnar cactus that produces many upright branches and grows five to seven feet…
This plant needs moderate water during hot dry summers, but is drought-tolerant and should not be over-watered. Plant it in…
Echinopsis terscheckii
Cardon GrandeOne of the largest of the Echinopsis species, this fast-growing, attractive, columnar cactus reaches heights of twenty-five feet or more…
The cardon grande grows best in full sun with reflected heat and thrives in hot, dry climates. It is drought-resistant…
Euphorbia antisyphilitica
CandelillaThe low-growing shrub has clusters of thin, upright, bluish-green, pencil-like stems that grow in clumps to about three feet. The…
It is a moderate grower that takes full sun with plenty of reflected heat. This succulent needs little water once…
Euphorbia macrocarpus
Lady Slipper PlantThe attractive, slow-growing succulent is recognized by its bright red flowers that resemble an elegant shoe or slipper. The plant…
It is hardy to about thirty degrees Fahrenheit, but mature plants can handle lower temperatures before showing signs of frost damage…
Euphorbia mauritanica
Pencil Milk BushThe pencil milk bush is a pencil-like, branching plant with upright, bright green, cylindrical stems that sprout in the shape…
It is heat and drought-tolerant, but likes additional water during the hot summer. Do not over-water this succulent because it…
Euphorbia milii
Crown of ThornsThe bushy, spiny succulent develops shoots that can reach up to three to four feet in height, with a two-foot…
It likes full sun or filtered shade. The crown of thorns is a slow-growing plant that needs well-draining, sandy soil…
Euphorbia resinifera
Resin SpurgeThis low-growing succulent has erect, thick, bluish-green to lime green, four-sided stems with small brown thorns, reaching one to two…
The plant is hardy to twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit. It likes full sun to partial shade and tolerates most soils as…
Euphorbia rigida
Gopher PlantThis mounding evergreen grows to about two feet tall with a three-foot spread, and has attractive, narrow, pointed, blue-green, sharp…
The gopher plant is extremely hardy to zero degrees and is a moderate to fast grower. It performs best in…
Euphorbia royleana
ChureeThe attractive, fleshy succulent has deep green branches and ornamental, knobby bumps on its columns. It grows eight to ten…
Plant the churee in well-draining soil in full sun to partial shade. It is hardy to twenty-five to thirty degrees…
Euphorbia tirucalli
‘Sticks of Fire’This endangered species is recognized for its light green, pencil-thin, bush-like branches with miniature leaflets. It is fast-growing reaching heights…
Plant it in well-draining soil and full sun with reflected heat or light shade. It is salt and drought-tolerant, and…
Ferocactus glaucescens
Blue Barrel CactusThis barrel cactus is about two feet tall and wide with a globular shape and a greenish-blue skin. As the…
The plant is slow-growing when young, and is generally easy to grow and care for. It likes full sun to…
Ferocactus wislizenii
Fishhook Barrel CactusThe Fishhook Barrel Cactus is recognized by the curved and hooked central spine and by the large, ribbed, “barrel-shaped” body…
Fishhook Barrel Cactus is an extremely easy accent plant to grow in and around the Tucson area. It tolerates most…
Fouquieria splendens
OcotilloThe Ocotillo is a mainstay of Arizona desert landscaping. It is made of many spiny unbranched stems with bright orange-red…
Plant occotillo in fall or spring in full sun and in soil that drains well. Recently planted ocotillos should be…
Myrtillocactus cochal
Candelabra CactusThe large, sprawling cactus is admired for its funnel-shaped, ivory flowers, and reaches heights of eight to ten feet tall…
The cactus likes full sun and reflected heat, and grows in rocky, fertile soils. It is drought-resistant, although it prefers…
Myrtillocactus geometrizans
Blue CandleThis columnar, architectural, tree-like specimen grows to fifteen feet with a candelabra form. Its spiny green stems are thick and…
The blue candle is drought-resistant but prefers occasional water. It is hardy to twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit and can show some…
Opuntia basilaris
Beavertail CactusThis interesting, oval-shaped cactus grows two to three feet tall and four feet wide. It has short, greenish-purple segments resembling…
Beavertail cactus likes full sun with reflected heat and is hardy from about nine to fifteen degrees. Plant the cactus…
Opuntia englemannii
Englemann’s Prickly PearEnglemann’s Prickly Pear is native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. The sage green pads of this cactus blend well…
Englemann’s Prickly Pear is very drought tolerant, needing little to no water once fully established. Plant in full sun or…
Opuntia ficus indica
Indian FigThis immense, branching cactus with a massive trunk grows to fifteen feet tall and ten feet wide. It produces large…
The Indian fig likes full sun and reflected heat. It also prefers well-draining soil and tolerates drought. During the hot…
Opuntia santa-rita
Purple Prickly PearNative to the Sonoran desert, the purple prickly pear grows in clumps, usually to about 4 feet tall by 5…
Purple Prickly Pear is very drought tolerant, needing little to no water once fully established. Plant this cactus in full…
Opuntia santa-rita
Santa Rita Prickly PearThis low-growing prickly pear cactus forms large clumps and has a short trunk growing to heights of two to five…
It is hardy to fifteen degrees Fahrenheit or lower. The Santa Rita prickly pear is drought-resistant but needs supplemental, monthly…
Pachycereus marginatus
Mexican FencepostThis handsome cactus has tall, columnar trunks and reaches heights of twenty feet, or more. It produces clusters of stout…
Plant the Mexican fencepost in well-draining soil and full sun with reflected heat or partial shade. It is drought-resistant, but…
Pachycereus schottii
Senita CactusThe columnar cactus grows fifteen feet tall and about ten feet wide, branching upwards from its strong base at ground…
It is extremely drought-resistant and usually survives on natural rainfall. The senita cactus is hardy to about seventeen degrees Fahrenheit…
Pachycereus schottii f. monstrosus
Totem Pole CactusThe slow-growing, smooth-skinned, columnar cactus grows ten to twelve feet with tall stems that branch at the base to form…
The plant is hardy to twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit and should be protected against frost. It likes full sun with plenty…
Portulacaria afra
Elephant’s FoodThe attractive, evergreen succulent can grow to eight feet or more, in its natural enviornment. It has small, circular, fleshy…
This plant likes full sun or light shade and is very is drought-resistant. It also prefers occasional water, especially during…
Stenocereus thurberi
Organ Pipe CactusThis distinctive night-blooming cactus grows in a columnar, tree-like form to twenty feet tall or more, producing multiple stems that…
The plant is hardy to twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit, and the tips of this cactus should be protected on cold nights…
Stetsonia coryne
Argentine Toothpick CactusThe distinctive, night-blooming cactus grows thirty feet tall and ten to fifteen feet wide. Its columnar, grayish-green stems are approximately…
The Argentine toothpick is hardy to eighteen degrees Fahrenheit. It likes full sun, reflected heat and sandy, well-draining soil. The…