Argentine Toothpick
A blue-green columnar cactus armed with long, rigid spines. Beautiful as a statement plant — definitely not a hugging cactus.
Big attitude. Even bigger toothpicks.
Keep your cactus happy
Full sun to light partial shade. Gradually introduce nursery plants to harsh afternoon sun so the skin has time to adjust.
Let the potting mix dry fully between thorough waterings. In hot summer weather, an established outdoor plant may need occasional deep watering; cut back sharply in cooler months.
Pots while young · Ground for long-term size
Young Argentine Toothpicks do well in containers with fast-draining soil and drainage holes. As they grow taller and heavier, they need increasingly stable pots and may eventually be better suited to a spacious, well-drained landscape spot. A pot also makes it easier to protect younger plants during a freeze. Never place the long spines near walkways or seating.
Choose a coarse, well-drained mineral-rich cactus mix and a pot with drainage holes. Avoid persistently wet soil.
Can develop into a large, branching cactus, often 15–25 feet or more in favorable ground conditions; container plants generally stay smaller.
Published hardiness estimates vary around 18–20°F for established plants. For a potted plant, protect it before frost rather than testing those limits, especially if soil is damp.
Handle with respect
Did you know?
Care varies by climate, pot, plant age and weather. Mature height and cold tolerance are approximate, not guarantees. Botanical identity should be checked against nursery paperwork before publishing printed labels.
Further reading: horticultural source.