Echinopsis chiloensis - (Syn: Trichocereus chiloensis)

Echinopsis chiloensis is a medium to large growing columnar cactus with chunky upright growth that branches usually from the base but occasionally higher up on the trunk. It is endemic to north-central Chile from roughly inland of La Serena in the north to around Talca to the south, growing on coastal valley slopes and steep mountains at elevations from about 500-2000 metres above sea level.

It forms stout trunks with chalky brown spines and when mature it produces spectacular white flowers. These are followed by edible fruit which are readily consumed by birds, mamals and ants ensuring a wide seed dispersal. Because of this is it widespread and relatively common throughout northcentral Chile yet is rarely seen in collections.

Echinopsis chiloensis needs full sun and a well-drained substrate. It is cold tolerant and hardy to about -8C and can be grown outdoors in warmer more favourable regions of the UK if you know what you are doing. It is far from the hardiest outdoor cactus and probably shouldn't be considered by someone who is just beginning to grow cacti outdoors in the UK. It will need a very free-draining soil ideally on a steep rocky gradient to match the arid slopes of its native range. Watering should stop from around early to mid-October and not start again until the sunnier warmest days of early Spring, usually mid to late March. It should be kept dry overwinter and fleeced in extreme sub-zero temperatures.

Before you work up to planting Echinopsis chiloensis out in the garden, it does make a stunning houseplant and is ideal in a large terracotta container in a sunny conservatory. It is also fine in an unheated glasshouse and kept fleeced throughout the winter.