Scientific Name
Echinopsis candicans (Gillies ex Salm-Dyck) D.R.Hunt
Common Name(s)
Argentine Giant
Synonym(s)
Cereus candicans, Echinocereus candicans, Soehrensia candicans, Trichocereus candicans
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Echinopsis
Origin
Echinopsis candicans is native to northern and western Argentina (Monte Desert).
Description
Echinopsis candicans, formerly known as Trichocereus candicans or Soehrensia candicans, is a slow-growing shrubby cactus with light green, upright to sprawling stems with 9 to 11 low ribs lined with clusters of brownish-yellow spines. The stems are cylindrical, mostly branching at the base, and can grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) tall and 7.2 inches (18 cm) in diameter. The large white areoles are 1.2 inches (3 cm) apart and bear 10 to 12 radial spines and a few central spines. The radial spines can measure up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long, while the central spines can measure up to 4 inches (10 cm) long.
The large, fragrant flowers are white with a yellow center and pinkish outside. They are funnel-shaped, measuring up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and 7.6 inches (19 cm) in diameter. The flowers usually appear in late spring and open at night. The fruits are globose to ovoid and split down one side.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
If you can grow cacti and succulents successfully, you can likely grow the Echinopsis species without much trouble. Like many cacti, they prefer a drying period between waterings, even when slightly wilt. When you water, however, you should water deeply. The plant will noticeably plump up. The cactus mustn't be exposed to prolonged dampness and sitting water. Never let your cactus sit in a dish of water. Lastly, ensure fertilizer during the growing season for the best results.
Echinopsis can easily be rooted from offsets, which cluster around the mother plant's base. Cut offsets close to the stem, at the narrowest possible place. When rooting cacti from cuttings, let the fresh cutting dry on a paper towel and cut the cacti at the narrowest place possible. After a few days to a few weeks, depending on the cut surface's size, the cut surface should have dried out and formed a callous or slightly rough opening. Once the callous has formed, place the cutting in a rooting mixture of fast-draining cacti soil.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Echinopsis.
Hybrids
Links
- Back to genus Echinopsis
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
