Mexican giant cardon cactus

© Ed Reardon/Alamy

Mexican giant cardon cactus

In the world of cacti, they don’t get any bigger than the cardon. Also known as ‘elephant cactus’, this species can grow upwards of 60 feet and weigh in at over 20 tonnes. Despite the cardon’s massive size, it’s quite sensitive to frost, a trait which limits its range. The cardon primarily grows in the Baja California Peninsula in north-west Mexico, where its night-blooming flowers attract species like the lesser long-nosed bat.