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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) — commonly known as the Old Man Cactus; it prefers full sun and well-drained soil, image 76

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

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — Overwatering can lead to root rot, a common issue with cacti; hair-like spines enveloping its columnar body, image 65

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — This species is particularly noted for its shaggy coat of long

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — is an intriguing columnar cactus that brings a distinctive texture and height to any landscape design; the Old Man

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 53

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — this slow-growing cactus can reach impressive heights of up to 15 feet; with a diameter of 12 to 18 inches, image 59

Old Man Cactus (Cephalocereus Senilis) — the Old Man Cactus thrives in well-draining soil and requires full sunlight to maintain its health and, image 37

Cephalocereus Senilis

Cephalocereus Senilis

Photographs by 7 contributors

Traumrune, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Harry Rose from South West Rocks,…, CC BY 2.0 · source
Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada, CC BY 2.0 · source
Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

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