Scientific Name
Echinopsis oxygona (Link) Zucc. ex Pfeiff. & Otto
Common Name(s)
Easter Lily Cactus, Pink Easter Lily Cactus, Night-Blooming Hedge-Hogs
Synonym(s)
Echinocactus eyriesii, Echinocactus oxygonus, Echinopsis eyriesii, Echinopsis multiplex, Cereus multiplex
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Echinopsis
Description
Echinopsis oxygona is a cactus with globose to short cylindrical stems with 11 to 18 ribs lined with clusters of stout spines. The stems grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter, solitary or with many basal and lateral offsets. The spines are yellowish-brown, black-tipped, and up to 1-inch (2.5 cm) long. Each areole bears 1 to 5 central and 3 to 15 radial spines. The showy flagrant night-blooming flowers vary in color from white, pink, and pale red to lavender. They are funnel-shaped, up to 8 inches (20 cm) long and 5 inches (13 cm) in diameter, and appear in late spring and summer. Fruits are green, up to 2 inches (5 cm) long, and up to 1.5 inches (4 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 8b to 11b: from 15 °F (−9.4 °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 to fertilize during the growing season for the best results.
Echinopsis can easily be rooted from offsets, which 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.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Echinopsis.
Origin
This species is native to Brazil ( Rio Grande do Sul), Argentina (Buenos Aires, Entre Rios, Santa Fe), Paraguay (Guaira) and Uruguay.
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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