Why Are Large Cacti and Succulents So Expensive?
One of the most common questions we receive is, "Why are your large cacti and succulents so expensive?" The answer, quite simply, is time. It takes considerable effort and patience to grow our plants from seeds, offsets, or cuttings to their impressive sizes. For instance, consider the time it takes for you to grow a $15, 3-inch barrel cactus from the big box store into the size of one of our $78, 8-10 inch Golden Barrel Cactus. It will take you at minimum a three year investment to take that little barrel cactus to the 8"-10" size we sell. $21 a year. Perhaps a bargain when explained this way. Our plants can take anywhere from months to years to grow to the point where they are ready for sale. As many enthusiasts know, most cacti and succulents are slow growers, and we’ll explore this in more detail shortly.
The Cost of Loss
Another significant factor in the expense equation is loss. Since our plants aren’t grown in a controlled greenhouse environment, they are vulnerable to weather conditions, pests, and diseases—just like any farming endeavor. Even as professionals, we face challenges similar to those you encounter at home. A small percentage of our plants don’t make it to the packaging facility due to these factors.
Let’s take a closer look at some specific types of cacti and how long they take to grow.
Barrel Cacti
Barrel cacti can only be grown from seed. The $15, 3-inch barrel cactus you find at big box stores is typically 3-4 years old from seed. In contrast, our 8-10 inch barrel cacti are approximately 7 years old. When you pay $90, you’re essentially investing about $21 for each year of growth. In this context, it seems like a bargain! Smaller plants have their place, but for landscape applications, larger pots and larger container gardens, our fully acclimated larger plants offer significant advantages—saving you additional time for acclimatization.
Columnar Cacti
Some columnar cacti, such as Totem Pole, Mexican Fence Post, and Peruvian Apple Cacti can be grown from cuttings. Even then, our smallest columnar cactus takes about six months to a year to produce. Larger specimens can take three years or more to reach size. For example, that small 4-inch Mexican Fence Post cactus you find for $15 will take a minimum of three years to grow into the 12-18 inch size we sell for $79. Again, when you consider the time investment, the price becomes more understandable.
Now, let's look at columnar cacti that can only be grown from seed, such as the iconic Sonoran Desert Saguaro.
The 1-foot Saguaro we offer for sale is already seven years old from seed. In the wild, a 1-foot saguaro might be 12-15 years old! During dry years, little saguaro seedlings in habitat may not grow at all, while in good years, they might grow only 2 inches annually. At $179, you're purchasing a 7-year-old plant, which translates to just $25 per year—definitely reasonable!
Yucca and Grass Trees
Our Yucca rostrata and Mexican grass tree further exemplify the time investment involved. The 15-gallon Yucca rostrata we offer for sale is about 8-10 years old from seed, while the 24-inch box size, featuring a small trunk, is already 15-18 years old. Similarly, the Mexican grass tree follows a comparable growth rate. Here, you're again looking at a price of around $25-$35 per year of growth.
Conclusion
I hope this post has clarified why larger cacti and succulents are so expensive. Ultimately, the answer—like many things in life—boils down to time. Investing in these larger plants means you’re bringing home years of care, growth, and beauty, making them well worth the price.
