Scientific Name
Echinopsis 'Orange Paramount'
Synonym(s)
Echinopsis 'Paramount Orange'
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Echinopsis
Description
Echinopsis 'Orange Paramount' is a semi-columnar cactus with dark green stems, usually with 12 to 13 ribs lined with woolly, white areoles bearing clusters of short spines. The stem can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter.
The plant is a profuse bloomer with many flushes from spring through summer. The flowers are trumpet-shaped and up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. The inner petals are light orange with orange to salmon tones on the edges. Outer petals are the same but with a greenish mid-stripe. The back petals are shorter than the inner, bronze colored with a green overlay and slightly recurving.
Origin
Echinopsis 'Orange Paramount' is a hybrid created by Harry Johnson. The parentage is unknown.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9b to 10b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °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 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 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.
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.
