Cactus ID

[Shelly]

What is the name of this cactus? Very common here in southern California. It has big white flowers that open at night, and delicious fruit. Thanks.

 

[Yvonne G]

That is cereus peruvianis, usually a night bloomer.

 

[Shelly]

Does it have a common name, or just the latin one?

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Never mind.. "Peruvian Apple Cactus". Thanks Yvonne!

 

[Jacqui]

Yvonne, are there any other type that looks even close to that one? Curious, because when I was a kid, my Dad brought back a section he stole off a wild plant in CA I think, for my Grandmother. She had it for years and he had one too. When they died, by the time I tried to get the cactus, they were gone who knows where. Of course, their's never got big or bloomed, but did grow new sections. Always wondered what they were called. Sure looks like what John has.

 

[Yvonne G]

There's a lot of them that look similar, but they usually have more spines. Take a look at a google image search for organ pipe cactus.

 

[Shelly]

The ones with the thorns are skinnier and taller, I believe.

 

[Radiated]

are they edible?

 

[dmmj]

My tortoises love the flowers, but the cacti itself it to hard and stringy for most of them they avoid it. But the flowers they love. I have quite a few growing in my yard.

 

[Shelly]

I eat the fruit myself, it's really good.

 

[dmarcus]

Teri (RV's mom) was kind enough to send me a section off of hers when they trimmed it. I sure it will take a few years before we get flowers, but I am looking forward to it...

 

[RV's mom]

This looks tame... Ours towers over the top of the house.....

And RV loves the the flowers... and the berries.......
How do you treat the fruit to eat it??

Teri

 

[redbeef]

Yvonne, are there any other type that looks even close to that one? Curious, because when I was a kid, my Dad brought back a section he stole off a wild plant in CA I think, for my Grandmother. She had it for years and he had one too. When they died, by the time I tried to get the cactus, they were gone who knows where. Of course, their's never got big or bloomed, but did grow new sections. Always wondered what they were called. Sure looks like what John has.

Here's an interesting article that addresses this issue:

http://cactiguide.com/article/?article=article3.php

but otherwise that cactiguide site has a lot of stuff on there, might see what you're looking for trolling thru the cereus section or searching by shape!