Peruvian Apple Cactus | Edible Fruit & Night-Blooming Flowers

Peruvian Apple Cactus

5 Gallon

$119.00

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Peruvian Apple Cactus

Trichocereus / Echinopsis pachanoi

A slow-grown, sculptural cactus with night-blooming flowers and sweet, edible apple-like fruit.

$119.00

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Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

The Peruvian Apple Cactus is a majestic, tree-like columnar cactus prized for its commanding architectural presence and sweet, edible rewards. It forms a bold, upright sculpture of ribbed, blue-green stems that branch gracefully from the base, resembling a candelabra or organ pipe. Its true spectacle unfolds at night, when enormous, creamy-white, fragrant flowers open wide for a single evening. These are followed by smooth-skinned, apple-shaped fruits in shades of violet-red to yellow, revealing a crisp, white flesh dotted with crunchy seeds. A slow-burn investment that pays dividends in beauty and bounty, it is an essential living monument for the water-wise landscape.

Iconic Candelabra Form: Develops into a multi-branched, upright tree over many years, with thick, cylindrical, blue-green to grey-green stems featuring 6–13 distinct ribs. Its slow, deliberate growth rewards patience with an irreplaceable sculptural legacy.

One-Night Floral Spectacle: Produces huge, funnel-shaped, nocturnal flowers up to 6 inches across. The luminous white petals emit a strong, sweet fragrance, attracting bats and moths for a single, unforgettable night before closing forever at dawn.

Sweet, Edible "Peruvian Apples": Bears thornless, rounded fruit ripening from violet-red to yellow. The refreshing, juicy white pulp has a mild, sweet flavour and is studded with edible, crunchy seeds. Enjoy fresh, or use in beverages and preserves.

Exceptional Drought and Heat Tolerance: Thrives on neglect in full, unrelenting sun. Requires infrequent, deep watering only when soil is bone-dry. Its primary enemy is overwatering and poor drainage, which will cause fatal root rot.

Tender Giant for Mild Climates: Hardy to light frost (approx. 25-30°F) when dry. Best in USDA zones 9-11. In colder zones, it is a magnificent, slow-growing container specimen that can be summered outdoors and wintered in a bright, cool indoor space.

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

A larger gallon size generally means:
- A more established root system
- A sturdier plant
- Faster visual impact after planting
Example:
- 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity
- 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.

🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

Commonly used for:
- Ornamental trees
- Feature plants
- Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.
Why choose Multi:
- Fuller, more sculptural appearance
- Strong visual presence even at younger ages
- Popular for design-focused landscapes

🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

Commonly used for:
- Shade trees
- Street trees
- Orchard and structural plantings
Why choose Stand:
- Clean, classic tree form
- Easier clearance for walkways and lawns
- Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity

🌿 Choosing the Right Size

If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form
If you want long-term structure → Stand form
If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Features:Stems: Upright, columnar, blue-green to green stems with a waxy coating, featuring 4-8 prominent ribs. Spines are small, yellowish-brown, and clustered in groups along the ribs.Flowers: Large, spectacular, fragrant, white, funnel-shaped flowers that open at night in summer. They are borne on long tubes from the sides of the stems.Fruit: Small, round to oval, dark green to red fruit containing black seeds.Habit: A fast-growing, tree-like, columnar cactus that branches from the base, forming a multi-stemmed clump.
Mature Height: 10-20 ft.
Mature Width: 4-6 ft.
Growth Rate: Fast (for a cactus)
Light Needs: Full sun to partial shade
Key Advantages:Fast growth for quick architectural impact.Spectacular, large, fragrant night-blooming flowers.Drought tolerant once established.Low maintenance.Makes a dramatic landscape statement
Landscape Uses:Architectural specimen in xeriscapes.Desert and rock gardens.Container planting (when young).Modern and Southwestern landscapes

Q: Is this the same as "Night-Blooming Cereus" or "Queen of the Night"?
A: Taxonomically, yes and no. This plant (Cereus repandus/peruvianus) is correctly called Peruvian Apple Cactus. However, its common names are notoriously muddled in the nursery trade. It is often labelled as "Night-Blooming Cereus" or "Queen of the Night," names more accurately applied to Epiphyllum or Selenicereus species. Regardless of the label, the defining features are its tall, columnar, blue-green, ribbed stems and its edible fruit.

Q: How big does it get, and how long does it take?
A: This is a plant of two speeds and sizes. It is a slow grower, taking 20-50 years to reach its ultimate landscape height of 30-40+ feet. However, when grown in a container or in climates with cooler periods, it is far more restrained, often remaining a manageable 6-10 feet tall for many years. Patience is its primary requirement.

Q: A source I read says this plant is called "量天尺". Is that correct?
A: No, this is a critical distinction. In Chinese horticulture, 量天尺 (Liàng Tiān Chǐ) refers specifically to Hylocereus undatus, the plant that produces dragon fruit. Your plant, 秘鲁天轮柱 (Peruvian Apple Cactus), is a different genus (Cereus). While they are both columnar cacti, they are distinct species with different flower and fruit characteristics. Confusing them is a common nursery error.

Q: How do I encourage it to flower and fruit?
A: Relentless sun and benign neglect. It requires full, direct sun for the majority of the day. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote soft, leafy (non-existent) growth at the expense of blooms. It may take several years to mature to flowering size, but once established, a dry, hot summer is its best trigger. The plant is often self-fertile, but having two specimens may improve fruit set.