Scientific Name
Echinopsis candicans (Gillies ex Salm-Dyck) D.R.Hunt
Common Names
Argentine Giant
Synonyms
Cereus gladiatus, Helianthocereus pseudocandicans, Echinopsis pseudocandicans, Trichocereus pseudocandicans, Trichocereus neolamprochlorus, Echinopsis courantii, Trichocereus candicans, Cereus candicans, Trichocereus courantii
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Echinopsis
Description
Echinopsis candicans is a cactus with a shrubby growth habit. The individual stems are light green, up to 24 inches (60 cm) tall, up to 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter, and have 9–11 low ribs. The large white areoles are spaced at 1.2 inches (3 cm) and produce brownish-yellow spines, the central spines being up to 4 inches (10 cm) long, the radial spines only up to 1.6 inches (4 cm). The fragrant white flowers are large, up to 8 inches (20 cm) across, up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and open at night.
Photo via desertdabbler.com
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 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 fertilizer 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
Echinopsis candicans is native to northern and western Argentina (Monte Desert).
Hybrids
Links
- Back to genus Echinopsis
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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