- Torch Cacti thrive across southern Arizona as highly popular landscape plants due to their extreme drought tolerance, resilience to intense desert heat, and spectacular, oversized spring blooms - While native to South America, they adapt perfectly to the Sonoran Desert environment - Varieties in southern Arizona include the Red Torch Cactus (Trichocereus Grandiflorus), also known as the "Desert Blooming Jewel" ... this variety grows up to 2 feet tall ... highly celebrated locally for bursting into giant, brilliant red, orange, or yellow flowers during the spring and summer