Xerophyte

Habit

These cacti grow rapidly and may simple or most often form big clumps up to 60 cm in diameter.

Central Spines

1-5, sometimes absent, thick, needle-like, eventually 20-45 mm long.

Note

This plant has been widely crossed with other species of Echinopsis and the number of cultivars seems unending. The flowers are lovely and are available in an assortment of bright colours ranging from magenta, red, orange, to yellow, and much sought-after by Cactophiles everywhere.

Flowers

Usually from areoles halfway up the side of the plant, white, pink, pale red to lavender, funnel-shaped, fragrant with long tubes 15-20(-30) cm long, 5-10 cm in diameter, its tube distinctly enlarged above, its scales large, distinct. Inner perianth-segments broad, rose-colored, acuminate. Stamens and style much shorter than perianth-segments, but exserted beyond the throat. Stigma-lobes white, slender, 6 or 7.Old plant may have dozen of stunning flowers open at a time.

Blooming Season

This species blooms from late spring to all summer long. The flower last only one day in full beauty, they open at evening and start to wither the next afternoon on hot days. On cool days they will last longer.

Spines

0.5 to 2.5 cm long subulate and stout, hard, blackish, yellowish-brown, brown, or horn coloured with darker tips, spreading and more or less curved.

Ribs

12-15, straight, broad at base, rounded on back, acute, slightly undulate.

Stem

The stems is globose, globose to elongate, eventually short cylindrical to somewhat clavate, rounded or depressed at apex, clustering from near the base, green passing to greyish green or somewhat glaucous, (5-)10-15(-25) cm in diameter 15-30 cm high.

Radial Spines

The areoles have 13-15 radial spines, ascending, 2 cm long.

Fruits

Fruits green, to 4 cm long and 2 cm in diameter.

Areoles

Large, filled with short white wool, about 1 cm apart.