Verbena bonariensis

Verbena bonariensis

Passiflora caerulea flower

Passiflora caerulea

Chamaecereus silvestrii

Peanut Cactus
Size
ex 9cm pots
Availability: In stock
£6.99
Quick Overview
  • Small, mat-forming cactus with many finger-like segments
  • Orange-red flowers, prolific in summer
  • Segments detach easily and root to form new plants
  • Hardy to about -7C if kept dry
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Chamaecereus silvestrii, Peanut Cactus, was known to most of us by this name until 1983 when it had a perplexing taxonomic name-change and became Echinopsis chamaecereus. Many people ignored this and thankfully Plants of the World Online now recognises it again as Chamaecereus silvestrii. Hopefully it may live out its days without too much more taxonomic malarkey.

First collected in 1896 by Carlo Luigi Spegazzini in the mountains of NW Argentina and described by him as Cereus silvestrii, subsequent expeditions failed to find it and it is now thought to be extinct in the wild. It is however, widespread in cultivation and in the Mediterranean it is commonly seen outside as a windowsill plant.

Chamaecereus silvestrii is a low mat-forming cactus with many elongated segments and soft bristle-like spines. In spring it produces numerous orange to red flowers. It is ideal in a large terracotta bowl where it will relatively quickly form a large plant, often turning reddish-pink in full-sun. Segments dislodge easily and readily root to form new plants. It is hardy to about -7C and if you have a warm area protected from the rain it is worth experimenting with outside in the more favoured southern and southwest coastal locations of the UK or within the London heat island. Ensure you have back-up plants first, just in case!


Additional Information

Order Caryophyllales
Family Cactaceae
Sub-Family Cactoideae
Synonyms Cereus silvestrii, Cereus silvestrii var. crassicaulis, Echinopsis chamaecereus, Lobivia silvestrii,
Geographical Origin Argentina : Tucumán, Salta - but thought to be extinct in the wild
Cultivation Water and feed during the growing season. Keep dry during winter. Well-drained substrate
Eventual Height 15cm
Eventual Spread 30-40cm
Hardiness Hardy to about -7C if kept dry. If you have back-up plants and a warm, protected dry microclimate it is worth experimenting with outdoors
Chamaecereus silvestrii
Peanut Cactus
Size
ex 9cm pots
Availability: In stock
£6.99
You could receive 20 Palm Points for writing a review for this product.
Add to My Wishlist Add to Compare Email to a Friend
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