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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Cereus hildmannianus is an evergreen Tree growing to 9 m (29ft) by 4.5 m (14ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The flowers are pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Cereus milesimus E.C.Rost. Cereus peruvianus auct

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Stem
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw[625 ]. The tasty fruit has a sweet, fleshy pulp[301 , 625 ]. The fruit peel is sometimes candied[301 ]. The orangish-yellow fruit is up to 12cm long and 10cm wide[625 ]. The young stems are sometimes eaten[301 ].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Containers Hedge Pioneer Wood

Agroforestry Uses: The plant is a pioneer of open ground in its native area and could be a suitable, if slow-growing, a pioneer for semi-arid areas generally[625 , K ]. Other Uses: The wood is regular-grained, very light and coarse-textured. It is very susceptible to wood-eating organisms. It can only be used to make light boxes and models such as model aeroplanes[625 ]. A potted plant.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming Food Forest Hedge

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Living fence Management: Standard Regional Crop

A plant of the warm temperate to tropical regions. Plants are quite hardy when conditions are fairly dry, able to tolerate occasional temperatures as low as -10c[423 ]. Requires a sunny position and a well-drained soil[423 , 625 ]. Prefers a pH lower than 6[200 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[625 ]. There are reports that the plant has escaped from cultivation and become invasive in Hawaii[305 ]. Newly planted trees are slow to establish and grow away[625 ]. Good in pots.

Carbon Farming

Agroforestry Services: Living fence Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
Management: Standard Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Regional Crop These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow the seed in a semi-shaded position, spreading the seed on the surface and watering it into the soil. Germination rates are usually low with the seed sprouting within 30 - 50 days[625 ]. Cuttings. One of the easiest cactus to propagate by cuttings[423 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Kaktus hildmannia, Mandacaru, Tuna, Tunam, Urumbeva, Hedge Cactus, Queen of the Night, Andes Organ Pipe, Peruvian Apple, Spiny Tree Cactus.

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Bolivia (southeast), Argentina, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paraguay, Uruguay,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

There are reports that the plant has escaped from cultivation and become invasive in Hawaii[305 ].

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Least Concern

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Acanthocereus tetragonus	Pitahaya. Barbed-wire cactus.	Tree	5.0	10-12	S	LM	N	D	3	0	3
Cereus repandus	Peruvian apple cactus	Tree	10.0	9-12	S	LM	N	DM	3	0	1
Hylocereus megalanthus	Yellow Pitaya	Shrub	2.0	10-12	F	LMH	N	DM	4	3	2
Hylocereus undatus	Dragon Fruit, Red Pitaya	Shrub	4.0	10-12	F	LMH	SN	DM	4	0	2
Pachycereus hollianus	Baboso, Acompes	Perennial	4.0	9-11	M	LM	N	DM	0	0	3
Stenocereus griseus	Cactaceae. Pitaya, Organpipe cactus	Tree	7.0	10-12	M	LM	N	D	3	0	2
Stenocereus stellatus	Joconostle cactus, Baja organ pipe cactus	Shrub	2.0	9-11	M	LM	SN	DM	3	0	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Expert comment

Author

K.Schum.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Cereus hildmannianus - K.Schum.