The columnar cactus or Cereus is probably one of the most commonly grown cactus species. The cactus, which is not entirely easy to care for, is represented in numerous species. They differ not only in shape and color, but also in flowers and flowering times. Not all of them can be cultivated indoors.
Which columnar cactus species are known?
Some well-known types of columnar cacti are: Cereus jamacaru (single-stemmed, bluish-green, white, greenish flowers), Cereus peruvianus (single-stemmed, bluish-green, white-pink flowers), Cephalocereus senilis (multi-stemmed, white hairy, red flowers), Cleistocactus strausii (multi-stemmed, green, wine-red flowers) and Cereus peruvianus (multi-stemmed, green-bluish, reddish tips).
The columnar cactus comes from South America
The homeland of the columnar cactus is South America. There it grows in predominantly rocky terrain. It stores water in its trunks and tolerates dry phases well. None of the many types of columnar cactus are winter hardy. You therefore always have to overwinter them indoors.
Identify columnar cactus
There are numerous very different looking species of Cereus. However, unlike leaf cacti, they have some common characteristics.
Columnar cacti always grow upright with just one or more trunks. Some species are hairy, others have thick, strong thorns.
The flower shapes range from drooping long white-red flowers to red, upright flowers.
The columnar cactus rarely blooms indoors
For a columnar cactus to bloom, it must be several years old. If it is kept exclusively indoors, it almost never produces flowers. Only if it is given a break in winter will flowers occasionally form.
In most species of columnar cactus kept here, the flowers only open at night and close again in the morning.
Known species of columnar cactus
| botan. Name | Shape | color | Ribs | Bloom | Flower color | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cereus jamacaru | single-stemmed | bluish-green | 6 – 10 | up to 20 cm long | white-greenish | long, sharp thorns |
| Cereus peruvianus | single-stemmed | bluish-green | 5 – 8 | up to 15 cm long | white-pink | few sharp thorns |
| Cephalocereus senilis | multi-stemmed | white hairy | 20 – 30 | short, standing | red | also called old man's head |
| Cleistocactus strausii | multi-stemmed | green | 25 – 30 | tubular protruding | burgundy | also called silver candle |
| Cereus peruvianus | multi-stemmed | green-bluish | 9 – 10 | 12 to 15 cm | reddish tips | also called rock cactus |
Tip
Not all columnar cacti have long thorns. However, in some species these are very pronounced, while others have very soft, small spines. Therefore, be careful, especially if children and pets are part of the family.
