Pachycereus pringlei

Pachycereus pringlei, also known as "Mexican giant cactus", it is a classic cactus plant, mostly found in the Sonoran desert in Mexico. Together with Carnegiea gigantea it is one of the tallest cacti in the world, which can reach an average height of 10-12 meters. At a young age it has an opaque green body of a characteristic cylindrical shape, furrowed by deep ribs, on each of which large white areoles are distributed longitudinally, holding numerous grayish, robust and straight spines. Its inflorescence develops between March and April and reaches a size of 8 centimeters, flowers are usually white, funnel-shaped, sometimes drooping like a bell. If planted in the ground, this cactus reaches impressive dimensions, developing like a tree with multiple ramifications at the base of the main stem, which, as it ages (it can live over 200 years!), takes on a grayish color and is wrapped in a sort of massive bark, in which the ribs are no longer distinguished, making it resemble an elephant's foot (hence the common name of "Elephant cactus"). With its considerable size, this cactaceae often does not keep the ramifications in an upright habit, but seems rather unbalanced by its enormous weight (up to several tons).