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Cereus peruvianus – Peruvian Apple Cactus

$5.00 – $10.00

Cereus peruvianus (Peruvian Apple Cactus) is a perennial, columnar growing cactus that is native to South America and can reach heights of almost 3 metres. It is quite a beautiful specimen in a cactus garden and is often grown purely for its ornamental value. The Peruvian Apple Cactus bears tasty edible fruit and has spectacular flowers that are very attractive to bees and open as the sun is getting lower in the evenings.

This species is suitable as an indoor or potted plant but will not grow as large in these circumstances.

Suitable in Warm Temperate – Tropical Climate

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Cereus peruvianus (Peruvian Apple Cactus) is a perennial, columnar growing cactus that is native to South America and can reach heights of almost 3 metres. It is quite a beautiful specimen in a cactus garden and is often grown purely for its ornamental value. The Peruvian Apple Cactus bears tasty edible fruit and has spectacular flowers that are very attractive to bees and open as the sun is getting lower in the evenings.

This species is suitable as an indoor or potted plant but will not grow as large in these circumstances.

Growth

Cereus peruvianus is a cactus, so is hardy in hot, dry conditions. It can be grown in temperate climates, but it is best to keep them in containers until they are a couple of years old and well established before planting them outdoors, or of course; you can keep them indoors.

The trunk is blue-green, thorny and can reach up to 9 feet tall outdoors and will branch out in the right climate. Indoors the plant will not get as large, which is probably a good thing! It’s flowers are large, getting up to 18 cm’s in diameter and truly are stunning. They are nocturnal, opening as the sun is setting and only survive for the one night, as the sun comes up the next morning the petals will start to fall, and its life span is sadly over.

The fruit varies from red to yellow in colour and gets sweeter as it ripens, they look like a dragonfruit inside. There are no thorns present on the fruit.

Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.

 

FAMILY:

Cactaceae

CLIMATE:

Temperate, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical, Tropical

TEMPERATURE RANGE:

7 to 40°C / 45 to 104°F

SOIL TYPE:

Soil MUST be well draining.

LOCATION:

Full Sun

HEIGHT:

Up to 2.7 metres (9 feet)

WIDTH:

Up to 1.5 metres (5 feet)

pH:

6.0-7.0

GROWTH TYPE:

Evergreen

WATER REQUIREMENTS:

Light

POLLINATION:

Bats and Moths

MATURITY:

4-5 years

GERMINATION RATES:

70-85%

GERMINATION TIME:

1-3 weeks

GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:

Reasonably Easy

SEEDS PER GRAM:

Approximately 500

MEDICINAL QUALITIES:

Yes, used in herbal medicine

WEED POTENTIAL:

No

FACTS ABOUT CEREUS PERUVIANUS (Peruvian Apple Cactus)

The Peruvian Apple Cactus is also known as Queen of the Night, Giant Club Cactus, Princess of the Night, Apple Cactus, Torch Cactus, Column Cactus & Hedge Cactus.

A Dental College in India has a Cereus Peruviana that has been grown with the support of scaffolding and has reached a whopping 34 metres (111 feet) tall!

Weight 0.5 kg
Dimensions 26 × 16 × .5 cm
Quantity

10 Seeds, 20 Seeds, Seedling

Germination Instructions

HOW TO GROW CEREUS PERUVIANA (Peruvian Apple Cactus)

 

Step 1

Soak the seeds in a glass of water for 24 hours, changing the water after 12 hours.

Step 2

Prepare a seedling tray or pot/s with a well-draining cactus raising soil. Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil and cover with 1-2 mm’s of further cactus mix.

Use a spray bottle or light mist hose to moisten the soil, do not soak the soil as this may rot your seeds and encourage bacteria growth.

Cover the pot/s or tray with clear plastic, glass or some kitchen wrap (gladwrap) to create a humid environment and the place them into a warm area that gets lots of light, without direct sunlight. Keep moist by using a mist spray if necessary but never wet.

Ideal germination temperatures are 24-28°C / 75-83°F.

Germination will begin in ideal conditions between 1-3 weeks.

Step 3

Once several seeds have germinated, slowly begin to remove the clear covering to allow some air circulation and to help the young seedlings adjust to the outdoor environment. Remove the covering a bit at a time over 1-2 weeks.

Step 4

Seedlings can be transplanted (if necessary) once they are strong enough to handle. They can also be hardened off if they are going to be outdoor plants. Hardening off can be achieved by placing them out into direct morning sun for an hour for 1-2 days and then gradually increasing this time until they are out in full sun all day (which is their preferred location). Only increase each step if they are doing well.

Step 5

For intended outdoor plants we recommend keeping them in pots until they are in their 2nd year and only plant out in Spring after you are sure that any chance of frost has passed. This will give them 8-9 months to become established enough to cope with winter.

In climates where winter is quite dreary and the plants will not get a lot of sunshine, do not give any extra water. Cacti are prone to root rot and do not tolerate soggy soil.

Peruvian Apple Cactus will take roughly 3-5 years to begin flowering.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are not familiar with Cacti, they do not need a lot of water, they store water in fleshy trunks and branches. Only water when the soil is completely dry and only while it is actively growing (Spring, Summer – can be climate dependent). They generally do not water during cooler, darker months while the cactus is dormant.

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