Browningia candelaris
| Light | Full sun; strong, bright light year-round |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate in growth, sparing; keep dry and cool in winter |
| Soil | Very free-draining mineral mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; tolerates cool, dry nights; USDA zones 10–11 |
| Propagation | Seed (primary) |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Browningia candelaris is a large, tree-like columnar cactus of the arid western slopes of the Andes, notable for the striking contrast between its trunk and crown. A single, heavily spined trunk rises like a bare pillar, then splits into a broad, candelabra-like crown of upward-curving, nearly spineless branches — a silhouette that gives the plant its common name, the candelabra cactus. It is the best-known member of the genus Browningia.
Description
Browningia candelaris is one of the giants of its habitat, in time forming a distinct tree several metres tall. The lower trunk is stout and unbranched for much of its height, densely armed with long, stiff spines that can be many centimetres long — a formidable defence at the level browsing animals can reach. Above this the plant branches repeatedly into a spreading crown of slender, ascending stems that are almost spineless, giving the mature plant its characteristic two-part look: a bristling column below and a soft-looking candelabra above.
The branches are ribbed and blue-green to grey-green, often with a waxy bloom that helps reflect the intense high-altitude sun. Flowers are nocturnal, opening in the cooler night hours: pale, funnel-shaped blooms carried on scaly tubes near the stem tips. These are followed by fleshy fruit. As with many desert columnars, the plant is slow and long-lived, and specimens of real size represent decades of growth.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to the dry western Andes, in the border region of southern Peru and northern Chile, where it grows on rocky slopes and in desert valleys at moderate to high elevation. This is an extremely arid environment — part of the greater Atacama region — where much of the plants' moisture arrives as fog and only occasional rain. Plants root among rock in gritty, sharply drained mineral ground and endure strong sun, wide day-to-night temperature swings and long dry spells.
Cultivation
Browningia candelaris is grown for its bold architecture, though its slow pace and eventual size make it a long-term project rather than a quick windowsill plant. Give it the brightest position available and a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a deep container that suits its columnar habit. Water moderately through the warm growing season once the mix has dried, then keep the plant dry and cool over winter to mimic its arid, seasonal home and to prevent rot.
Good air movement and generous light help the stems grow firm and true; in dim conditions young plants etiolate and lose their form. Protect from hard frost — while established plants tolerate cool, dry nights, wet cold is dangerous. See Watering and Repotting for general technique, and expect to move the plant up gradually as it gains height.
Propagation
Seed is the usual and most reliable method. Sow on a warm, damp mineral surface and grow the seedlings on slowly; like most desert columnars the species takes its time. Cuttings of the branches can in principle be rooted, but propagation from seed is far more common for this plant. See Propagation — seed for a full walkthrough, and Propagation — cuttings for the general rooting method.
Common problems
- Rot — the main risk, almost always from overwatering, a slow-draining mix, or cold wet conditions in winter; the stem softens and discolours.
- Etiolation — too little light makes young stems thin, pale and drawn, spoiling the columnar form.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and among spines) and scale are the usual offenders; red spider mites can bronze the skin in hot, dry, stagnant air. See Pests and diseases.
See also
- Browningia — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Pests and diseases