Stenocereus queretaroensis aka Pitaya De Queretaro

Stenocereus queretaroensis is a cactus shaped like a tree. It is native to Mexico and belongs to Cactaceae, the cactus family. Its Spanish names include Pitayo de Querétaro. Another name is Pitahaya de Queretaro. It grows in central and western Mexico. Its range includes Guanajuato, Jalisco and Michoacán. It also includes Nayarit, Querétaro and Zacatecas. It grows in tropical forests where trees shed their leaves. Kew also lists desert or dry shrubland as its habitats.

This plant stays green year-round and has thick, fleshy stems. It forms a clear trunk with many branches. These spread like the arms of a candelabra, a branched candle holder. The plant grows about 16–20 feet [5–6 metres] tall. Green stems bear spines and make up its main visible growth. They can reach about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] across. The thick stems and branched trunk give it its tree-like shape. Its reported height makes it a large plant for gardens.

The flowers have a scent. They have swollen chambers that hold nectar. They open both by day and at night. Bats carry pollen to the flowers. The red fruits reach about 0.2 feet [0.06 metres] across. Young fruits bear spines but shed them as they ripen. People eat the fruit and gather it from wild plants. Growers also raise this cactus for its fruit. Mexico has a well-established practice of growing it.

In gardens, this cactus needs sun and soil that drains well. It suits dry parts of the tropics and subtropics. Plants cope well with drought once they take root. The plant prefers soil with a pH between 6 and 7.5. It can stand only very slight frost. This limits its use outdoors in cold climates. Growers can start new plants from seed or cuttings. The supplied sources give no months for bloom. They give no exact winter heat or cold limit.

People use it as a living fence along roads and around gardens. It thus serves as both a boundary and a fruit crop. Once it dies, craftspeople use the dry frame inside it. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known uses as medicine or hazards. This does not prove safety for pets or all plant parts. The sources name no pests or diseases. Useful Tropical Plants cites a 2017 IUCN assessment of Least Concern. It describes the species as widespread and fairly common.