Pronounciation: Ser-E-us lam-pro-SPER-mus

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

Landscape Use: This arborescent cactus is a very strong focal point for xeric and/or desert landscape themes.

Form & Character: Strongly arborescent, upright, tree-like, many branched, dominant, majestic, arid.

Growth Habit: A massive succulent perennial columnar cactus, slowly upright and much branched from 15- to-50 feet tall (usually around 20 feet tall in Phoenix) with nearly equal spread.

Foliage/Texture: Stems sometimes segmented, dull green to bluish gray, generally 6 to 8 ribs on a mature stem, mostly very short spines typically 8 to 10 per aereole; very coarse texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Nocturnal bloomer, large white flowers with reddish sepals, flowers borne at aereoles. Fruit and fruits rarely seen in Phoenix.

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

Temperature: Tolerant to 25^oF.

Light: Full sun.

Soil: A well-drained mineral soil is best.

Watering: Water only occasionally if at all during summers.

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

Propagation: Relatively easily propagated from elongated softwood stem cuttings of most any length from branched stems. Like other Cereus species, this one will develop roots after directly planting 'hardened off' stem cuttings into the soil (right side up!). Make sure to first allow the cut surfaces of the stems to harden for several weeks (callous over) before planting directly into soil.

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

Additional comments: This Cereus taxon is a real oddity in the landscape. People will pause and marvel at its unique large size and tree-like form. Ergo, this is a quintessential landscape focal point competing with saguaro and the Bismarck palm for the title of #1 visual attractor in Phoenix landscapes. With age, this arborescent cactus will become very large and will occupy a surpringly large amount of physical and visual space in the landscape. Cereus lamprospermus ssp. colosseus can attain heights of up to 50 feet at maturity, too large for nearly all but the most expansive Phoenix landscape sites. Cereus lamprospermus ssp. lamprospermus is more diminuative in habit and suitable for Phoenix landscapes 'only' attaining heights of 20 to 30 feet at maturity.

Taxonomic factoid: The species name lamprospermus literally translates as lampros ‘bright, radiant’ and sperma ‘seed’, which in sum refers to 'very shiny' black seeds within its fruits.