Peniocereus

This plant grows wild in north central Nicaragua. I have seen it in various locations from approx 500 m to 800 m elevation, usually in fu...Read Moren sun or part shade. Examples in full sun seem to have a less attractive, heat stressed appearance.

Like many of the cactus here, it seems to be scattered but not rare in the tropical dry forest habitat. The climate is frost free, with typical low night temps in the 60s with pronounced dry and well seasons. All growing locations I've found have been well-drained and the soil varies from rock to a dense rock-clay mixture.

So far it has grown well from both seed and cuttings using standard methods for cactus propagation. The plant has some limited landscape potential, and probably more potential for pots and hanging baskets. The wild plants vary from clumping to trailing to climbing, so selection will be necessary to use them for ornamental purposes. My plants have not flowered yet, but I hope to photograph some of the wild ones in flower this year.

Another synonym of this plant is Cereus guatemalensis