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Old Man Cactus

Cephalocereus Senilis

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Overview

Cephalocereus senilis, commonly known as the Old Man Cactus, boasts striking white, hair-like spines enveloping its columnar body, providing a unique, shaggy appearance. This slow-growing Mexican native can reach up to 15 feet tall but remains slender at 1.5 feet wide. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, it adds a touch of whimsy to arid landscapes. Frost-sensitive, ideal in USDA zones 9-11.

Sun FullWater Very LowZones 9–10Type CactusClimate Arid

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — cactus with pink blooms; overwatering can lead to root rot, a common issue with cacti, image 74

Culture

Sun: Full
Water: Very Low
USDA zones: 9–10

Shape & size

Mature height: 2–50 Ft.
Mature width: 1–3 Ft.

Classification

Type: Cactus
Family: Cactaceae
Climate: Arid

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Photos (82)

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — cactus with pink blooms; overwatering can lead to root rot, a common issue with cacti

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — During its growth season in the warmer months; this slow-growing cactus can reach impressive heights of up to 15 feet

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — cactus for full

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — elevating the aesthetic with its unique and stately presence

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — Hailing from the arid regions of eastern Mexico

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — This slow-growing Mexican native can reach up to 15 feet tall but remains slender at 1.5 feet wide, image 78

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — Frost-sensitive, ideal in USDA zones 9-11

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — cactus for full; elevating the aesthetic with its unique and stately presence, image 75

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — commonly known as the Old Man Cactus

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — During its growth season in the warmer months

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — it may benefit from a cactus-specific fertilizer to encourage vitality.<br><br>Flowering is rare; during its growth

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — cactus with pink blooms

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — This slow-growing Mexican native can reach up to 15 feet tall but remains slender at 1.5 feet wide; especially in

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — elevating the aesthetic with its unique and stately presence; commonly known as the Old Man Cactus

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — with a diameter of 12 to 18 inches when fully mature

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — hair-like spines enveloping its columnar body; this species is particularly noted for its shaggy coat of, image 52

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — Considering its eventual height and low maintenance

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — commonly known as the Old Man Cactus; it prefers full sun and well-drained soil, image 51

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — especially in cultivation

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — hair-like spines enveloping its columnar body; this species is particularly noted for its shaggy coat of long

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — it can tolerate temperatures just below freezing

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — the Old Man Cactus thrives in well-draining soil and requires full sunlight to maintain its health and, image 62

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, it adds a touch of whimsy to arid landscapes; is an intriguing, image 80

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — it can tolerate temperatures just below freezing, image 38

Photographs by 19 contributors

CactiLegacy, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Rosario, CC BY 4.0 · source
cultivar413, CC BY 2.0 · source
JLHA3050, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Jose Antonio Aranda Pineda, CC BY 4.0 · source
Rémih, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Harry Rose from South West Rocks,…, CC BY 2.0 · source
Amante Darmanin from Malta, CC BY 2.0 · source
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Sarah Stierch, CC BY 4.0 · source
Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0 · source
David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Original uploader was Sadambio at hu.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Frank Sengpiel, CC BY 4.0 · source
Leonora Enking from West Sussex, England, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Dguendel, CC BY 4.0 · source
María Eugenia Mendiola González, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Bff, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

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