James H. Schutte
Family
Cactaceae
Botanical Name
Stenocereus thurberi
Plant Common Name
Organ-pipe Cactus
General Description
This large multi-stemmed, columnar cactus is the signature species of Arizona's Organ Pipe National Monument. There it is found in conjunction with the great Saguaro cactus, mesquite and ocotillo. Organ pipe also exist in Sonora and Sinaloa Mexico as well as Baja California. It survives primarily on summer rains and requires dry, mild winters with little frost.
This common name of this species is derived from the fact it forms clusters of large, upright stems that resemble organ pipes. It takes many years for specimens to reach this size and multi-stemmed appearance. Each of the, unbranched columnar stems have 12 to 19 closely spaced ribs. The ridge lines of the ribs are dotted with spine clusters (areoles) each featuring star shaped blooms of 1 to 3 gray to black central spines and 7 to 9 smaller radials.
Organ pipe blooms in spring bearing pinkish lavender buds that open to show large, white, funnel-shaped flowers. They open at dusk to lure the night fliers of the southwestern deserts. These remain open all night though the following day to allow day pollinators, like bees and hummingbirds, to have a chance to visit the blooms. The flowers are restricted to the upper parts of the stems and followed by bright red, edible fruits with carmine pulp that mature by midsummer. These are just one of the many products these plants provide the indigenous desert tribes’ people of the Seri and Papago.
Full, hot sun and perfectly drained soil is necessary for good health. Container grown specimens should be watered sparingly in summer and none in winter. This is a truly beautiful cactus for southwestern desert gardens in areas with nearly subtropical winter climates. They are slow growing, so large plants are quite expensive. Due to their preference for the unusual isolated summer rainstorms and a dry winter, this cactus does not grow well outdoors outside of its natural area of distribution.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 10
-
Sunset Zone
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24
-
Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
-
Height
10'-22' / 3.0m - 6.7m
-
Width
4'-8' / 1.2m - 2.4m
-
Native To
Southwestern United States, Mexico
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Flower Color
White, Lavender
-
Fruit Color
Red
-
Fragrant Flowers
Yes
-
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Repeat Bloomer
No
-
Showy Fruit
Yes
-
Edible Fruit
Yes
-
Showy Foliage
No
-
Evergreen
Yes
-
Showy Bark
No
