Scientific Name
Pachycereus marginatus f. cristata
Accepted Scientific Name
Pachycereus marginatus (DC.) Britton & Rose
Common Names
Crested Mexican Fence Post, Crested Mexican Fence Post Cactus, Crested Fence Post Cactus, Crested Organ Pipe, Crested Central Mexico Pipe Organ, Crested Mexican Organ Pipe Cactus, Crested Organo
Synonyms
Cereus marginatus f. cristata, Lemaireocereus marginatus f. cristata, Stenocereus marginatus f. cristata, Cereus gemmatus f. cristata, Marginatocereus marginatus f. cristata
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Pachycereeae
Genus: Pachycereus
Description
Pachycereus marginatus f. cristata is a rare crested cactus that forms dark green beautifully sculptured stems. It is a slow-growing cactus but can become quite big with time, making it a spectacular specimen. Spines are very short in mature branches.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
These extraordinarily low-maintenance plants can grow untouched for decades, so there is not a lot you need to worry about. However, they must receive adequate sun and heat and be careful around their spines. If grown in containers, make sure that they are being repotted and their soil isn't too moist. Other than that, these plants are about as simple and hands-off as it gets.
If you do choose to 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, cutting away any dead material from the roots, and replanting. Watch out for the plant's spines, and they can really 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.
Origin
This succulent is a crested form of Pachycereus marginatus.
Links
- Back to genus Pachycereus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
