Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Flowering Plants
  
Origin
North America, United States, Southwestern United States, California, Mexico
  
Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
  
Types
Lebombo ironwood, Giant ironwood
  
not available
  
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas
  
Desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
  
12-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
  
H2
  
Habit
Spreading
  
Weeping
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Light Pink, Lavender
  
White, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Chocolate, Black
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Gray
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Gray
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Gray
  
Olive, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Small oblong
  
Long and slender with very sharp edges
  
Thorns
Yes
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Transplanting
  
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
  
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Aphids, Mealybugs, Root rot, Scale, Viruses
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Semi-Double
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Diabetes, Hangover
  
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Stem
  
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Carvings, Knife handles
  
Employed in herbal medicine, Fine spines and trichomes are used as fiber for weaving, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Rock Garden / Wall, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
  
Container, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
OLNEYA tesota
  
Peniocereus greggii
  
Common Name
Ironwood
  
Night Blooming Cereus, Reina de la noche, Arizona queen of the night
  
In Hindi
रेगिस्तान आइरनवुड
  
Night Blooming Cereus
  
In German
Wüsteneisenholz
  
Nachtblühende Cereus
  
In French
désert Ironwood
  
Night Blooming Cereus
  
In Spanish
Ironwood desierto
  
Reina de la noche
  
In Greek
Ironwood έρημο
  
Night Blooming Cereus
  
In Portuguese
deserto Ironwood
  
Night Blooming Cereus
  
In Polish
pustynia Ironwood
  
Noc Blooming Cereus
  
In Latin
desert ironwood
  
Maria Maria Cereus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Fabales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Fabaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Olneya
  
Peniocereus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Robinieae
  
Pachycereeae
  
Subfamily
Faboideae
  
Cactoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available