Perennials, Tropicals > Cereus > Cereus peruvianus > Cereus peruvianus
Cereus peruvianus
Hedge Cactus, Peruvian Apple Cactus, Blue Cereus
Origin: Peru, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
| Family |
| Cactaceae |
| Genus |
| Cereus |
| Species |
| peruvianus |
| Category |
| Perennials, Tropicals |
| 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 |
| Up to 10 m |
| Spread |
| 1 - 3 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Spreading columnar cactus. |
| Shape |
| Tree-like stem succulent, with upright or slightly curved branches. Distinct trunks up to 10 m. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Cylindrical, somewhat slender, segmented, 10 - 20 cm in diameter. Spines are extremely variable, needle-like, and grow up to 5 cm. |
| Flower Description |
| 12 - 15 cm long, nocturnal, each flower opens for only one night then shrivels. Flowers aren't self-compatible, requires cross-pollination to produce fruit. |
| Fruit Description |
| Fruit grow to about 4 cm long, takes 40-50 days to ripen, cracks open during ripening with the flesh sweetening as the fruit opens. Edible flesh contains small edible seeds. |
| Colour Description |
| Bark varies from green, grey-green, to blue. Spines are grey. Flowers are white with reddish tips. Fruit are red with white pulp, but skin colour can vary from yellow to deep violet-red. |
| Texture Description |
| Smooth. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Centennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. |
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