Opuntia cylindrica
Cane cactus · Emerald Idol · San Pedro Cactus
Description
Source: leafsnapAustrocylindropuntia cylindrica (syn. Opuntia cylindrica), the cane cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae. It is native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and it has been introduced to the Canary Islands, Morocco, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. A popular ornamental, it is an invasive species in Europe, South Africa, and Australia. Due to a misidentification, for a time this species was erroneously thought to contain mescaline.
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun
Native to dry areas, Cane cactus thrives in full sun; its native habitat is marked by intense sunlight and little shade. It will also tolerate partial sun, giving it some flexibility in its growth.
🌡️ Temperature 20–35°C
Cane cactus favors the warmer end of temperate zones, doing best between 68 to 95 °F (20 to 35 ℃). Native to regions with clear seasonal shifts, it can adapt to temperature variations. In cooler months, keeping at least 68 °F (20 ℃) is beneficial.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
For cane cactus, light applications of fertilizer once or twice a year during the growing season are sufficient. Do not fertilize in winter or during the summer dormancy. Reduce the amount of fertilizer for plants that have been repotted and wait a couple of months after repotting before applying fertilizer. Fertilizing promotes healthy growth and encourages flowering.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Succulent
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Opuntia
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 9-10
- Mature Height
- 15 cm
- Mature Spread
- 30 cm
- Leaf Color
- Dark Green
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Color
- Red
- Flower Size
- 3.05 cm to 5.08 cm
- Bloom Time
- Summer
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall
- Native Area
- Colombia, Ecuador, Peru