Scientific Name
Pereskia grandifolia Haw.
Common Name(s)
Rose Cactus
Synonym(s)
Cactus rosa, Cactus grandifolius, Pereskia grandiflora, Pereskia grandifolia subsp. grandifolia, Pereskia grandifolia var. grandifolia, Pereskia ochnocarpa, Pereskia rosea, Pereskia tampicana, Rhodocactus grandifolius, Rhodocactus tampicanus
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Pereskioideae
Genus: Pereskia
Description
Pereskia grandifolia is a shrubby cactus or small tree with a grayish-brown trunk and rounded crown up to 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. It grows up to 16.4 feet (5 m) tall. The areoles are rounded, grayish, or brownish. The new twigs can have spineless areoles, while the trunk areoles may have up to 90 black to brown spines, each up to 2.6 inches (6.5 cm) long. Leaves are green, elliptic to ovate or obovate-lanceolate, and up to 9 inches (23 cm) long. The dense inflorescence develops at the ends of the stems. Flowers are showy, usually pink or purplish but also white or tan, and up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. They appear during warm months.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
As with many cacti, Pereskias can be almost ignored and still flourish. One of the major advantages these plants pose as houseplants is their ease, and overwatering or overfeeding them is a bigger danger than neglecting them because it can damage their roots. If you repot them, remember to leave them alone for a brief period to avoid overstressing them, and make sure to keep an eye out for common houseplant pests. Many of these cacti can't be grown as houseplants anyway due to their shrubby growth habit, and others are very rare, but when you find out, Pereskias can be good in cultivation.
They like dry conditions and don't need to be repotted often, but it is still a good idea to refresh their soil by occasionally repotting. Be careful when repotting any cactus not to get hurt by their sharp spines, lift the plant from its mix, and replace it in a new container before backfilling with soil. Do not water for a few weeks after repotting.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Pereskia.
Origin
This species is native to northeastern Brazil.
Links
- Back to genus Pereskia
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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