Tropicals > Cereus > Cereus peruvianus > Cereus peruvianus var. monstrosus
Cereus peruvianus
var. monstrosus
Apple Cactus
Origin: Southernmost portion of the Southwestern United States of America and Mexico.
| Family |
| Cactaceae |
| Genus |
| Cereus |
| Species |
| peruvianus |
| Category |
| Tropicals |
| Variety |
| monstrosus |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 9 - 11 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H3 - H1b |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 0 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 10 |
| Height |
| 9 m |
| Spread |
| 1 - 3 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| Landscape |
| Mass plantings, rock gardens, borders, potted outdoor patio plant, indoor potted plant or as a specimen. |
| Cultivation |
| Plant in well-drained, loose gravelly, sandy or loamy soils in full sun to partial shade. Full sun encourages flowering and fruit growth. |
| Shape |
| Upright. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Pests |
| Root rot in waterlogged soils. Scale and Mealybugs may be a problem. |
| Habitat |
| Dry rocky plains and slopes. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Smooth yet gnarled succulent flesh that appears rough and bumpy as the plant matures. Inconspicuous spines grow lengthwise in panicles of 2 - 6 along the veins. |
| Flower Description |
| Showy 8 - 12-petaled blooms that grow along succulent veins among inconspicuous spines. |
| Fruit Description |
| Showy ovate-sperical fruits, or 'prickly pears', appear after flowers, measuring between 10 - 18 cm long and 10 - 12 cm wide. |
| Colour Description |
| Succulent flesh varies in colour from true green to grey depending on maturity. Greyish-white spines. White to pale purplish-brown flowers. Bright red to pale red fruits. |
| Texture Description |
| Smooth, bumpy. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Devonian Botanic Garden, Devon, Alberta, Canada. Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
top