Echinopsis eyriesii
| Light | Bright light with some direct sun; a little shade from the harshest afternoon glare |
|---|---|
| Water | Regularly through the growing season, letting the soil dry between waterings; keep dry and cool in winter |
| Soil | Fast-draining mineral-rich mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9–11, tolerant of a cool winter rest |
| Propagation | Offsets (very readily); seed |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Echinopsis eyriesii is a dark-green globular to shortly columnar cactus from subtropical South America, clothed in short, stubby spines and famous for its enormous, long-tubed white flowers that open at night and fill the air with fragrance. One of the oldest Echinopsis species in cultivation, it is an easy, generous grower that has served as a parent to countless garden hybrids, and is sometimes sold under the common name Easter lily cactus.
Description
Echinopsis eyriesii begins life as a solitary, deep-green globe and slowly elongates into a short barrel with age, typically reaching 15–30 cm tall. The body carries numerous sharp, straight ribs lined with closely set areoles, each bearing a small cluster of very short, dark spines pressed against the plant — far less fierce than those of many desert cacti. With time it clusters freely, throwing up a ring of offsets around the base.
The flowers are the species' great attraction: long, slender-tubed trumpets 15–25 cm long, pure white and sweetly scented, borne on a woolly, hairy floral tube. They open in the evening and last a day or so, drawing night-flying pollinators. A mature, well-rested plant can produce a succession of these spectacular blooms through spring and summer.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to subtropical South America, in southern Brazil, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. It grows in grassland and among rocks, often nestled where surrounding vegetation gives it dappled shade and its roots find gritty, well-drained ground. This is a comparatively mild, summer-rainfall climate rather than a harsh desert, which is reflected in the plant's appetite for water during the growing season.
Cultivation
Echinopsis eyriesii is one of the most forgiving cacti for a beginner and flowers willingly. Grow it in a free-draining, mostly mineral mix in a pot that is not too large, in bright light with a few hours of direct sun. Through the warm months it appreciates more generous watering than most desert cacti — water thoroughly, then let the mix dry out before watering again.
The key to good flowering is a cool, dry winter rest: keep the plant nearly bone-dry and cool (but frost-free) from late autumn until spring, then resume watering as the days lengthen. This dry rest also guards against rot, the main risk in cool, damp conditions. See Repotting for general potting technique.
Propagation
This species offsets so freely that vegetative propagation is almost effortless. Twist or cut away a well-formed pup, let the wound callus for a few days in dry shade, then pot it up in the same gritty mix and water lightly once roots begin — see Propagation — offsets and Propagation — cuttings. It can also be raised from seed, which germinates readily on a warm, humid mineral surface, though named hybrids are almost always kept going from offsets to preserve the clone.
Cultivars
Echinopsis eyriesii has been crossed extensively, especially with large-flowered relatives such as Echinopsis oxygona, with the day-flowering, brightly coloured species once placed in Lobivia, and with the large, vigorous plants once placed in Trichocereus. The result is a vast range of garden Echinopsis hybrids in white, pink, red, orange and yellow. Because it is so old in cultivation and so willing to bloom, E. eyriesii remains a favourite pod and pollen parent for hobby breeders.
Common problems
- Rot — the usual cause of loss, from a soggy mix or watering during the cold winter rest; the plant softens and discolours from the base.
- Shy flowering — often the sign of a plant kept too warm and watered through winter; it needs a genuine cool, dry rest to set buds.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the body pale and stretch, losing its firm, ribbed form.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the areoles and among the offsets) and red spider mites are the most common; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Echinopsis — the genus overview
- Echinopsis oxygona — a closely related large-flowered species
- Propagation — offsets · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting