Xerophyte

Habit

It is a perennial treelike, stem succulent, with columnar few branched stems that, under favourable conditions, can reach the ultimate height of 8 m and spread of 4 m.

Description

Browningia hertlingianaSN|4253]]SN|4253]] also known as the “Blue Cereus” is a huge columnar cactus sought after by collectors because the juvenile specimens have a beautiful blue frosty covering. It one of the few really blue cacti.

Juvenile Spines

About 5-8 unequal poorly differentiated (of which centrals 1-3, radials 4-6), the longest to 8 cm long, all yellow or yellowish grey and tipped brown.

Flowers

Nocturnal, white up to 5 cm in diameter

Blooming Season

Flowers appear in summer, only on plants over 1 m tall.

Spines of Flowering Stems

Up to 30 more or less equal, more flexible, bristle-like, yellowish.

Spines

Dimorphic with two distinct young and mature forms.

Ribs

Up to 18 (or more) cm long, tuberculate.

Stem

Trunk undivided about 1 m tall from which several stems arise, main and side stems usually unbranched (or very few benched above ), erect up 30 cm in diameter, the new growth is a fantastic vivid turquoise blue while old growth turns a pale olive green. The typical blue covering only develops in a warm climate and with much light.

Fruits

Dry, 2,5 cm in diameter.

Areoles

Somewhat sunken on tubercles tips.