Scientific Name
Echinopsis chamaecereus H. Friedrich & Glaetzle
Common Name(s)
Peanut Cactus
Synonym(s)
Chamaecereus sylvestrii, Chamaecereus silvestrii, Lobivia silvestri, Cereus silvestrii
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Trichocereeae
Genus: Echinopsis
Flower
Color: Orange-red
Bloom Time: Spring
Description
Echinopsis chamaecereus is a branched cactus with many crowded finger-like stems. It grows up to 6 inches (10 cm) tall. Stems are pale green, up to 6 inches (15 cm) long, and up to 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) in diameter.
The plant blooms in late spring and produces several flushes of about 2 inches (5 cm) wide orange-red flowers.
How to Grow and Care
If you can grow cacti and succulents successfully, you can likely grow the Echinopsis species without too much trouble. Like many cacti, they prefer a drying period between waterings, even when they slightly wilt. When you water, however, you should water deeply. The plant will noticeably plump up. The cactus mustn't be exposed to prolonged dampness and sitting water. Never let your cactus sit in a dish of water. Lastly, make sure to fertilizer during the growing season for the best results.
Echinopsis can be easily rooted from offsets, which tend to cluster around the base of the mother plant. Cut offsets close to the stem at the narrowest possible place. When rooting cacti from cuttings, let the fresh cutting dry out slightly on a paper towel and cut the cacti at the narrowest place possible. After a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the cut surface, the cut surface should have dried out and formed a callous or slightly rough opening. Once the callous has formed, place the cutting in a rooting mixture of fast-draining cacti soil.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Echinopsis.
Origin
Echinopsis chamaecereus is native to Argentina (Tucumán).
Links
- Back to genus Echinopsis
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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