Scientific Name
Lophocereus schottii (Engelm.) Britton & Rose
Common Name(s)
Old Man Cactus, Senita Cactus, Totem Pole Cactus, Whisker Cactus
Synonym(s)
Cereus schottii, Pachycereus schottii, Pilocereus schottii
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Echinocereeae
Genus: Lophocereus
Etymology
The specific epithet "schottii" (pronounced "SHOT-ee-eye") honors Arthur Carl Victor Schott (1814-1875), a German-American artist, topographical engineer, cartographer, botanist, ethnographer, and geologist.
Origin
Lophocereus schottii is native to the southwest United States (southern Arizona) and northwestern Mexico (Baja California and Sonora).
Description
Lophocereus schottii, formerly known as Pachycereus schottii, is a slow-growing, usually trunkless cactus that forms clumps of numerous columnar stems with 5 to 8 ribs, mainly branching at or near the base. The stems are green with red around young areoles, aging to gray-green, and have faint waxy chevrons. They can grow up to 13.1 feet (4 m) tall and 6.4 inches (16 cm) in diameter. The top portion of the mature stems is covered with hairlike, strongly twisted bristles that can reach up to 4 inches (10 cm) in length. In contrast to the long spines at the top of mature stems, the young stems have only about five short conical spines.
The nocturnal flowers are short, funnelform, and measure 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) long and 1.2 inches (3 cm) in diameter. They often appear several per areole, usually in summer. The outer tepals are white with a greenish center, while the inner ones are white with a pink-orange center. The fruits are greenish when immature, turn candy-apple red when ripe, and contain tiny blackish seeds. They are egg-shaped to subspherical and can reach 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter.
Forms Lophocereus schottii
Cultivars of Lophocereus schottii
How to Grow and Care for Lophocereus schottii
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 8b to 11b: from 15°F (-9.4°C) to 50°F (10°C).
These extraordinarily low-maintenance plants can grow untouched for decades, so there is not much you need to worry about. However, they must receive adequate sun and heat and be careful around their spines. If grown in containers, ensure they are repotted and that their soil isn't too moist. Other than that, these plants are about as hands-off and straightforward as it gets.
If you cultivate a small specimen in a container, repotting it can be helpful. If so, repot it as you would any other cactus by removing it from the pot, removing any dead material from the roots, and replanting. Watch out for the plant's spines, as they can ruin your day.
Like most cacti and succulents, these plants propagate by cuttings. Sever a branch and replant in well-drained soil. Make sure to stand the cactus up in an empty container to let its ends heal off before you replant it. This will keep its stems shaped right, and cacti with dried ends form roots more easily after planting.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Pachycereus.
Links
- Back to genus Lophocereus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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