Cephalocereus senilis
|
|
Name: Growth Habits: Slow growing to 45 feet tall (11 m) by 18 inches (45 cm) in diameter columnBlooming Habits: The 2-inch rose colored flowers, open at night in April. |
Old Man Cactus, Old man of Mexico Cultural Practices: In nature, the cephalocereus reaches 2 feet tall in 20 years, it can be much faster with proper watering and fertilizing. To keep the cactus smaller, the top can be cut in spring, dried for 3 days, and replanted. |
Native to the Hidalgo Guanajuato region in central Mexico. Large columnar, solitary stem, growing to 15 meters high and 40 cm diameter. Younger plants start out with 10 - 15 ribs, but that number will double when the plant reaches maturity. Closely spaced aereoles with 20 - 30 fine white bristles and one to five spines. Cactus will lose the hairy bristles towards its base as it gets older, giving it a bare appearance. Cream and red colored flowers, producing a red fruit with yellow hairs.
Cold tolerant.
Reported to contain unspecified alkaloids.
