Scientific Name
Echinopsis oxygona (Link) Zucc. ex Pfeiff. & Otto
Common Name(s)
Easter Lily Cactus, Night-Blooming Hedge-Hogs, Pink Easter Lily Cactus
Synonym(s)
Cereus oxygonus, Echinocactus oxygonus, Echinonyctanthus oxygonus, Echinopsis eyriesii, Echinopsis multiplex
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Echinopsis
Etymology
The specific epithet "oxygona" (pronounced "ok-SY-goh-nuh") means "sharp-angled" and refers to the sharply defined ribs of this species.
Origin
Echinopsis oxygona is native to Brazil ( Rio Grande do Sul), Argentina (Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe), Paraguay (Guaira), and Uruguay.
Description
Echinopsis oxygona is a cactus with globose to short, cylindrical stems with 11 to 18 sharp ribs lined with clusters of stout spines. It can grow solitary or with many basal and lateral offsets. The stems can reach a height of 12 inches (30 cm) and a diameter of 10 inches (25 cm). The spines are yellowish-brown, black-tipped, and can measure 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, appear in late spring and summer, and can reach up to 8 inches (20 cm) in length and 5 inches (13 cm) in diameter. The green fruits can grow up to 2 inches (5 cm) long and 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 wilted. When you water, however, you should water deeply. The plant will noticeably plump up. The cactus mustn't be exposed to prolonged dampness and standing water. Never let your cactus sit in a dish of water. Lastly, 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.
Links
- Back to genus Echinopsis
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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