Joconostle cactus, Baja organ pipe cactus
Stenocereus stellatus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

Stenocereus stellatus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bats. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 2

Where it is found

The species inhabits tropical deciduous forest and xerophyllous scrub.

Central America to southern N. America - southern Mexico.

Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Central America, Indonesia, Mexico*, North America, SE Asia

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Fruit - raw or cooked. A slightly acid flavour. The fruit is said to make the most delicious of all the cactus jams in Mexico. It is also used as a filling in turnovers. The fruit can be dried for later use. The fruits are around 3cm in diameter. The fruit juice is used to prepare an alcoholic beverage called 'colonche'. Seeds - occasionally eaten. Flowers - occasionally eaten. The flower buds are parboiled then prepared with onions and vinegar. Stems - occasionally eaten.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

Biomass: Provides a large quantity of plant material that can be converted into fuel etc.

Fencing: Plants that can be used for fencing.

Fodder: Food given to the animals (including plants cut and carried to them) rather than forage for themselves.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Fodder: Bank: Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.

Industrial Crop: Biomass: Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Fodder: Bank: Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.

Industrial Crop: Biomass: Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Attracts Wildlife: Plants noted for attracting wildlife

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

The plants can take very little frost. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5. Established plants are very drought tolerant.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 9-11

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Kaktus pipa organ baja, Pitaya, Xoconochtli, Xoconostle

Synonyms

Cereus stellatus Pfeiff. Lemaireocereus stellatus (Pfeiff.) Britton & Rose