Scientific Name
Echinopsis atacamensis (Phil.) Friedrich & G.D.Rowley
Common Name(s)
Cardon, Cardon Grande, Cavul, Pasakana
Synonym(s)
Cereus atacamensis, Leucostele atacamensis, Trichocereus atacamensis,
Cephalocereus pasacana, Cephalocereus pasacanus, Cereus eriocarpus, Cereus pasacana, Echinopsis atacamensis subsp. atacamensis, Echinopsis atacamensis subsp. pasacana, Echinopsis formosissima, Echinopsis pasacana, Echinopsis rivierei, Helianthocereus atacamensis, Helianthocereus pasacana, Leucostele rivierei, Pilocereus pasacanus, Trichocereus atacamensis subsp. pasacanus, Trichocereus atacamensis subsp.pascana, Trichocereus atacamensis var. pasacanus, Trichocereus cephalopasacanus, Trichocereus eremophilus, Trichocereus pasacana, Trichocereus rivierei
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily:Â Cactoideae
Tribe:Â Trichocereeae
Genus:Â Echinopsis
Origin
This species is native to Chile. It occurs in arid soils in the Atacama Desert at elevations from 5,580 to 12,800 feet (1,700 to 3,900 m).
Description
Echinopsis atacamensis is a cactus with a tall columnar habit, sometimes forming branches and becoming tree-like. The stems grow up to 33 feet (10 m) tall and up to 28 inches (70 cm) in diameter. They have 20 to 30 ribs and areoles with 50 to 100 maroon-colored spines. The spines can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long, but they are usually about 4 inches (10 cm) long.
Flowers are rose-white, up to 6 inches (15 cm) long, and appear on the sites of the stems. The dark green edible fruits are up to 2 inches (5 cm) long and densely covered with hairs.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 8a to 10b: from 10 °F (−12.2 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °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 to the point where they 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, make sure to fertilizer during the growing season for the best results.
Echinopsis can easily be rooted from offsets, which tend to 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 out slightly 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.
Subspecies
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
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