Pilosocereus Species, Old Man Cactus, Old Man of Mexico, Tuno, Woolly Torch

Pilosocereus leucocephalus

Family
Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ee)
Genus
Pilosocereus (pil-oh-so-KER-ee-us)
Synonym
Pilosocereus sartorianus
Pilosocereus cometes
Pilosocereus maxonii
Cephalocereus maxonii
Cephalocereus leucocephalus
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Height
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Spacing
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color
Pale Pink
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Other Details
Category
Cactus and Succulents
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Can be grown as an annual
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From woody stem cuttings
From softwood cuttings
Allow cut surface to callous over before planting
Seed Collecting
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Phoenix, Arizona

Hayward, California

Henderson, Nevada

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Gardener's Notes:

1
positive
1
neutral
0
negative
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Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9b) | September 2006 | neutral

More synonyms of this plant are Cephalocereus sartorianus, Pilosocereus tehuacanus, Cephalocereus cometes, Pilocereus leucocephalus, P...Read More

C
Henderson, NV (Zone 9b) | January 2005 | positive

This cactus has a blueish coloring and can reach 20' tall. My 6' tall plant already started blooming during the summer. The fat pink fl...Read More

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