Scientific Name
Cleistocactus samaipatanus (Cárdenas) D.R.Hunt
Synonym(s)
Bolivicereus brevicaulis, Bolivicereus croceus, Bolivicereus rufus, Bolivicereus samaipatanus, Borzicactus samaipatanus
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Cleistocactus
Description
Cleistocactus samaipatanus is a columnar cactus with lime green stems with 14 to 17 ribs and clusters of pale yellow spines along the ribs. It grows up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. Each areole bears 13 to 22 unequal, up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long radial spines. Flowers are brilliant red to pink, up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, and appear in summer. Fruits are spherical, about 0.4 inches (1 cm) in diameter, red with white and brown wool, and contain blackish-brown or black seeds.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Choose a location that gets full sun and has well-draining soil. During the spring and summer, water your Cleistocactus when the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil dries out. During the fall, reduce watering to every five weeks if the ground dries out. In winter, keep Cleistocactus dry, or the moist ground combined with the cool temperatures and dormancy may cause the roots to rot. Fertilize Cleistocactus with a low-nitrogen fertilizer during the active growth period. A slow-release fertilizer applied in the spring will be sufficient for the whole year.
It is possible to propagate by cutting a small branch from a Cleistocactus and rooting it, but this inevitably leaves a disfiguring scar near the main stem's base.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Cleistocactus.
Origin
This species is native to Bolivia.
Links
- Back to genus Cleistocactus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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