Scientific Name:
Cephalocereus senilis
Pronunciation:
sef-uh-low-KER-ee-us SEE-nil-is
Common Name:
old-man cactus
Family Name:
Cactaceae
Plant Type:
Indoor foliage plant, Succulent or Cacti
Key ID Features:
Fine white hairs covering sharp pointy spines.
Habit:
Stiffly upright
Form:
Columnar
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
10 - 15m
Mature Spread:
1.5 - 2.0m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
Mexico, South America (Hidalgo, Mexico)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Indoor plant
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to old man of the Andes.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Needle-like
Arrangement:
Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Prickly
Surfaces:
Shapes:
Acicular
Margins:
Additional Info:
Leaves reduced to spines and long, white hairs.
Inflorescence Type:
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
11+
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
White, Yellow, Pink
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, Jul
Fruit Type:
Berry (true)
Fruit Colour:
Red
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, unlikely to fruit locally
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Spines, Succulent stems
Propagation:
Division - above ground parts
Optimal Temp.:
High
Light Level:
High
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Root rot, Scale insects (Drought tolerant)
