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Myrtillocactus geometrizansis a blue grey candelabra like cactus
of western Mexico bearing a small sweet, edible berrylike fruit.
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Description: Highly branched columnar
candelabra like tree cactus that creates a dense growth of stems growing
closely together. In nature grows up to 4.5 m tall, with the crown
reaching up to 5 m in width.
Stems: Glaucous (blue grey) Up to 7-10 cm thick. They have 5-8
ribs that are approximately 2.5 cm in depth with areoles about 2.5 cm
apart.
Spines: Each areole may have up to 5-9 spines, but generally they
have 3-5 spines about 5-12 mm long. Some spines but not awful.
Flowers & fruit: Rather smaller (2.5-3.7 cm) in relation to stem,
greenish white in March, that turn in very sweet, edible, dark red,
oblong fruits 8-20 mm in diameter. Starts blooming when it is about 60
cm tall.
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings in summer
(Cuttings will root only in hot weather. Cuttings must be kept very dry
to root)
NOTE: Myrtillocactus geometrizans is
commonly used as understocks for grafting cacti, (which is considered
good and which is considered bad for certain). It's very easy to grow
and is an excellent stock for small globular cacti that tend to rot off
on their own roots and for slower growth seedlings such as Ariocarpus
and Turbinicarpus that do not graft very well onto
Trichocereus spachianus unless they are larger size pups. For
these seedlings (and almost all other seedlings which are not cold
hardy), the grafting stock Myrtillocactus geometrizans is a
generally a better choice.
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Family:
Cactaceae (Cactus
Family)
Scientific Name:
Myrtillocactus geometrizans
(Mart. ex Pfeiff.) Console, 1897 |
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Origin:
Northern central Mexico down to Oaxaca
Habitat: Forms forests in some areas of the Chihuahuan desert.
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Common Names include: Blue Candle, Whortleberry Cactus,
Garambulla cactus also known as Blue Myrtle cactus (and a myriad of
other names),
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Synonyms:
- Cereus pugioniferus,
- Cereus geometrizans,
- Myrtillocactus grandiareolatus,
- Myrtillocactus geometrizans var. pugionifera,
- Myrtillocactus pugionifer
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Photo and
© Copyright
by
Massimo Giannelli (Italy)
Culture: They are semi hardy, make sure that
your Myrtillocactus are not exposed to temperatures below -4°C or
they may die, nevertheless it is a good advice never let the nighttimes
temperatures fall below 10°C. Water regularly in summer but allow to dry
fully before watering again. Need a well-drained soil mix with small
gravel added to ensure drainage.. During the winter months they should
be rather kept dry and water is restricted to only enough to keep the
stems and branches from shrivelling. Since they are big sized plants
need plenty of space for their roots, repotting should be done every
other year or when the plant has outgrown its pot. Exposure: Light shade
when young, full sun later.
Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of
Myrtillocactus geometrizans.
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