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Stenocereus stellatus - (Pfeiff.) Riccob.

Common Name Joconostle cactus, Baja organ pipe cactus
Family Cactaceae
USDA hardiness 9-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats The species inhabits tropical deciduous forest and xerophyllous scrub.
Range Central America to southern N. America - southern Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Stenocereus stellatus Joconostle cactus, Baja organ pipe cactus


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Stenocereus stellatus Joconostle cactus, Baja organ pipe cactus
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Stenocereus stellatus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bats.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Cereus stellatus Pfeiff. Lemaireocereus stellatus (Pfeiff.) Britton & Rose

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit  Seed  Stem
Edible Uses: Drink

Fruit - raw or cooked[301 ]. A slightly acid flavour[423 ]. The fruit is said to make the most delicious of all the cactus jams in Mexico[301 ]. It is also used as a filling in turnovers[301 ]. The fruit can be dried for later use[301 ]. The fruits are around 3cm in diameter[200 ]. The fruit juice is used to prepare an alcoholic beverage called 'colonche'[301 ]. Seeds - occasionally eaten[301 ]. Flowers - occasionally eaten[301 ]. The flower buds are parboiled then prepared with onions and vinegar[301 ]. Stems - occasionally 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

Biomass  Fencing  Fodder

None known

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Carbon Farming  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Fodder: Bank  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

The plants can take very little frost[423 ]. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil[200 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5[200 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[423 ].

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
  • Fodder: Bank  Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
  • Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
  • 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

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Kaktus pipa organ baja, Pitaya, Xoconochtli, Xoconostle

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico, Guerrero (northeast), Morelos (south), Oaxaca (northwest), Puebla (south),

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 it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

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

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Stenocereus griseusCactaceae. Pitaya, Organpipe cactusTree7.0 10-12 MLMND302

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

(Pfeiff.) Riccob.

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.

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