Pachycereus marginatus (Central Mexico Organ Pipe, Mexican Fence Post Cactus, Organ Cactus)
Botanical Information
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Genus | Pachycereus |
| Species | marginatus |
| Synonyms | Cereus marginatus, Lemaireocereus marginatus, Lophocereus marginatus, Marginatocereus marginatus, Stenocereus marginatus |
| Category | Annuals |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Native to Central Mexico. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 9b - 11 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H1c |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | (-3.8) to above 4.5 |
| Temperature (°F) | 25 - 40 |
| Height | In the wild it grows up to 15 m in height, cultivated, it is columnar, up to 4 m tall or more. |
| Flowering Period | April, May |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Upright and clumping, stiff and imposing, columnar cactus with unbranched stems from the base. |
| Landscape | Barriers, often becoming a living fences. |
| Propagation | By woody stem cuttings and seed. |
| Notable Specimens | Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America. |
| Habitat | Shrubland and forests. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Erected, basally branching to 5 - 20 cm thick, dark green. The epidermis surface is slightly rough to the feel, like sandpaper. |
| Flower Description | Pink to greenish, up to 2 in each areole, 3 to 4 cm long. |
| Fruit Description | Spiny, yellowish to reddish, up to 4 cm in diameter. |
Photographs
Pachycereus marginatus, form, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.