Stenocereus griseus aka Tall Candelabra Cactus
Taxonomy ID: 1449
Stenocereus griseus is a large cactus in the Cactaceae family. Its names include dagger cactus and Mexican organ pipe. Kew lists its native range from Mexico to Guatemala. It also includes the southern Caribbean and northern Venezuela. The plant grows in tropical lands with a dry season. It occurs in dry scrub and forests that shed their leaves.
This cactus can form a shrub or a branched tree. Sources give a usual height of 20–30 feet [6–9 m]. Some plants reach 33 feet [10 m]. In dry northern sites, plants may stay much shorter. They can send up five to twenty stems from the base. Other plants form a clear trunk, which grows smooth with age. The upright green stems may have a pale, waxy bloom. Each stem has six to ten ribs with raised areas below the areoles. Grey, needle-like spines grow from these points. Each areole bears one to three central spines and six to eleven radial spines.
The flowers appear in spring and open after dark. They stay open until about noon the next day. Each broad, funnel-shaped flower has pink outer parts and white inner parts. The outer parts bend back as the flower opens. Buds, open flowers, and young fruit can share one plant. Fruit takes about 40–50 days to ripen after pollination. Much of the crop ripens near the end of spring. Young fruit has spines, but loses them as it ripens. People eat the fruit and make marmalade and wine from it.
LLIFLE describes this cactus as easy to grow, but frost-sensitive. It grows well in a rich cactus mix that drains fast. Pots need good drainage, since too much water can cause rot. Water during summer and use a feed rich in potassium. Established plants can take full sun after gradual adjustment. Keep young seedlings out of full sun. In winter, give plants a bright, cool place and keep them dry. Stop feeding during this rest period. Warmth improves success; LLIFLE suggests winter temperatures of 8–12°C. Brief exposure near freezing may be possible when plants stay dry.
People grow this cactus around homes and in gardens. Farmers may keep existing plants when they clear land. Its edible crop gives it value beyond its large, upright form. People also use its potassium-rich wood as fertiliser. The Ferns reports no known hazards, but this does not confirm pet safety. The supplied evidence names no insect pests. Rot and poor cold tolerance are the main growing concerns it identifies. The Ferns lists the species as Least Concern.
Common names
Tall Candelabra CactusMore information about Tall Candelabra Cactus
How difficult is it to care for Tall Candelabra Cactus?
Stenocereus griseus is a low-maintenance cactus best suited to experienced growers in frost-free climates. It requires full sun, fast-draining soil, and very infrequent watering once established. Its main challenge is avoiding frost and overwatering, both of which can be fatal.
How big does Tall Candelabra Cactus grow?
Plants grow at a moderate rate and can reach 6–9 metres in height with a spread of approximately 3 metres at maturity. The columnar stems are 9–12 cm in diameter. Growth is faster in warm, sunny, drought-prone climates matching the species' native habitat.
Where is Tall Candelabra Cactus originally from?
Stenocereus griseus is native to dry scrublands and xerophyllous thickets of Mexico (Oaxaca, Veracruz), coastal Venezuela, Colombia's Guajira Peninsula, Guatemala, and the Caribbean ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao). It is typically found in tropical deciduous forest and thorny scrub, often alongside Prosopis species.
What kind of soil does Tall Candelabra Cactus need?
This cactus prefers well-drained, light sandy to medium loamy soil that tolerates poor nutrition. It is tolerant of a pH range of 6.0–7.5 (neutral to mildly alkaline). Heavy clay or poorly drained soils should be avoided.
What temperature does Tall Candelabra Cactus prefer?
Stenocereus griseus is frost-intolerant and suited to USDA hardiness zones 10–12 (UK zone 10). It thrives in warm, dry tropical and subtropical climates. Even brief freezes can cause severe damage or death.
How does seasonal care change for Tall Candelabra Cactus?
In its native habitat S. griseus blooms and fruits most prolifically during the dry season. In cultivation, watering should be reduced or eliminated in winter and cool periods. Summer is the active growing season; this is the appropriate time for any fertilizing or repotting.
What do Tall Candelabra Cactus flowers look like?
Flowers are white and funnel-shaped, approximately 10 cm long, with bent-back bracts. They open at night and remain open until around midday the following day before closing. The nocturnal blooming is adapted to bat pollination. In the Caribbean, flowering is most prolific during the dry season.
Can Tall Candelabra Cactus be grown outdoors?
This species is suited to outdoor cultivation only in frost-free tropical and subtropical regions (USDA zones 10–12). It is widely grown as a living fence and ornamental in Mexico, the Caribbean, and northern South America. In cooler climates it requires a frost-free greenhouse.
How is Tall Candelabra Cactus propagated?
Stenocereus griseus can be propagated from seed or stem cuttings.
Is Tall Candelabra Cactus edible?
The fruits of Stenocereus griseus (pitaya) are edible with a good to excellent flavour, rated 3 out of 5 for edibility. They are spherical to elongated, up to 5 cm in diameter, with spines that fall away as the fruit ripens to reveal red flesh. Fruits are eaten fresh, sold at local markets, and can be processed into marmalade and wine.
How is Tall Candelabra Cactus pollinated?
The flowers are night-blooming and are primarily pollinated by bats; birds may also contribute. In the Caribbean the species is described as a critical resource for bats, birds, and other animals during the dry season, reflecting the importance of these pollinators.
What are other uses for Tall Candelabra Cactus?
The species is widely cultivated as a living fence in agroforestry systems across Mexico and the Caribbean: its dense spines create an effective barrier against livestock. The wood is rich in potassium and the ash is used as a fertilizer. Ripe fruits also provide food for invertebrates, reptiles, birds, bats, and mammals.
Are there varieties of Tall Candelabra Cactus?
The species was originally described as Cereus griseus in 1812 before being reclassified to Stenocereus in 1961. No widely recognised cultivars or varieties are documented in available sources; the species is sometimes confused with related columnar cacti such as Stenocereus thurberi (organ pipe cactus of the US/Sonoran Desert).
What are the water needs for Tall Candelabra Cactus
What is the sunlight requirement for Tall Candelabra Cactus
Is Tall Candelabra Cactus toxic to humans/pets?
Sources
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