Scientific Name
Echinopsis aurea var. dobeana (Dölz) J.Ullmann
Accepted Scientific Name
Echinopsis aurea Britton & Rose
Common Name(s)
Red Easter Lily Cactus
Synonym(s)
Echinopsis dobeana, Lobivia aurea var. dobeana, Lobivia dobeana, Cereus huascha var. rubriflorus
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Echinopsis
Description
Echinopsis aurea var. dobeana is a clustering cactus with globular or elongated stems with 14 to 15 sharp-edged ribs separated by deep grooves. The stems grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall and up to 2.6 inches (6 cm) in diameter. The areoles are whitish or brownish. The central spines are long and brown, while the numerous radial spines are white and thinner. Flowers are showy red, up to 4 inches (10 cm) long, up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter, and appear from mid-spring to summer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °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 too 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 fertilize during the growing season for the best results.
Echinopsis can be easily rooted from offsets, which tend to cluster around the base of the mother plant. 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 size of the cut surface, 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.
Origin
This cactus is considered a geographical form of the very variable Echinopsis aurea.
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.
