The San Pedro cactus is undoubtedly one of the oldest magical plants in South America, with a history of use spanning over 3,300 years. Known by the botanical name Trichocereus pachanoi, it is a fast-growing, blue-green columnar cactus that can reach heights of up to 20 feet (6 meters), growing at a rate of up to 16 inches (40 cm) per year. Its maximum height is 40 feet (12 meters).

Peyote is a small, spineless, carrot-shaped cactus that grows in Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico—on both sides of the Rio Grande and further south in regions like Zacatecas and Tamaulipas—thriving in limestone deserts and river valleys under the shade of shrubs that protect it from the harsh sun.