Hardiness zones: Sunset 13, 16-17, 21-24
USDA 9 (marginal, protect from cold) - 11

Landscape Use: Strong focal point for xeric landscape themes, container plant, rock garden, large patios, and even as a natural screen for garbage containers.

Form & Character: A majestic columnar cactus, upright, tree-like, branched and contorted, convoluted, dominant.

Growth Habit: Slowly upright and branched to 20' (specific variants can grow to 50').

Foliage/texture: Stems sometimes segmented, dull to light green, ribs mostly 12, mostly spineless to very short spines; coarse texture.

Flowers & fruits: Flowers large and white to 6" across, borne on a elongated tube, somewhat fragrant, tube short often ridged, stigma often exerted before flower opens; Fruits, globose, red when ripe and rounded like a small apple with a white pulp to 2 1/2" diameter.

Seasonal color: Spectacular flower display in late spring, sometimes will flower during early fall.

Temperature: Tolerant to 20^oF.

Light: Full sun, no shade

Soil: Well drained mineral soil is best.

Watering: Water only occasionally if at all.

Pruning: None, except to control width by occasionally thinning out awkward or crossing branches.

Propagation: From softwood stem cuttings allow cut surface to callous over before planting directly into soil.

Disease and pests: Susceptible to root rot in damp poorly drained soils.

Additional comments: Cereus is a latin word meaning a wax taper. C. peruvianus is very similar to, and often confused with C. hildmannianus. With age, this arborescent cactus become very large occupying significant physical and visual space. The large fruit of this cactus is presently being researched as a significant fruit crop for production in arid climates like Israel. C. peruvianus 'Monstrosus' is often confused with C. hildmannianus, except that the stems are generally greenish rather than a glaucous blue.