Argentine Giant Cactus

The Argentine Giant cactus (Echinopsis candicans) is a striking plant native to Argentina, best known for its enormous, showy flowers and sprawling growth habit. Here’s a detailed description:

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Overall Appearance
• Growth Form: It’s a clumping cactus with multiple thick, ribbed stems that sprawl along the ground rather than growing upright.

• Height & Spread: Individual stems can reach about 1–2 feet tall, but the plant as a whole can spread several feet wide, forming dense clusters over time.
• Stem Characteristics: Cylindrical and blue-green to dark green, with 9–12 rounded ribs and prominent areoles (the spots from which spines grow).

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Spines
• Color: Typically golden yellow to light brown.
• Length: Straight central spines may reach 3–4 inches, with shorter radial spines around the areoles.

• Purpose: These not only protect the plant but also help shade the surface from intense sunlight.

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Flowers
• Size: The blooms are giant indeed—up to 8–10 inches across.
• Color: Usually pure white, sometimes with a hint of cream or pale yellow.
• Blooming Habit: Flowers open at night and last only about a day, releasing a sweet fragrance to attract nocturnal pollinators like moths and bats.
• Bloom Time: Typically late spring to early summer, though mature, well-cared-for plants may produce multiple flushes.

Fruit
• Appearance: After pollination, the plant can produce egg-shaped fruits covered with bristly hairs.
• Edibility: While not commonly eaten, the pulp is not toxic.

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Habitat & Care
• Native Range: Dry, rocky regions of northern and central Argentina.
• Light Needs: Full sun is best for maximum flowering.
• Soil: Well-draining cactus mix or sandy soil.
• Water: Drought tolerant—water deeply but infrequently, allowing soil to dry completely between waterings.

• Cold Tolerance: Can withstand brief dips to around 20°F when dry.