Bleo, Orange rose-cactus
Leuenbergeria bleo

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A cactus. It is a clambering shrub. It loses some of its leaves. It is thorny. It grows 3-6 m high. The stems are dark green when young. There are spines in clusters of 6. The leaves are oblong. They are rubbery and 8-18 cm long. The tips are tapered. The edges are wavy. The leaf stalks are 5 cm long. The flowers are pink or orange. They occur singly and are 8 cm across. The fruit are top shaped. The ripen yellow.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits places with seasonally moist and dry climates. It needs sandy, well-drained soil. It can tolerate some salt. In Panama and Colombia it grows along streams up to 500 m altitude. It grows in plant hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Central America, Colombia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Pantropical, SE Asia, South America, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a salad.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It can be grown from cuttings. It can be used for hedges.

Its other names

Local names

Auguja de arra, Bleo de chupa, Chupa, Chupa melon, Clarol, Dieplong, Guamacho, Najii, Naju de culebra, Naju de esoubas, Pipchuelo

Synonyms

Cactus bleo Kunth.; Pereskia bleo (Kunth) DC. Pereskia corrugata Cutak; Pereskia panamensis F. A. C. Weber; Rhodocactus bleo (Kunth) F.M. Kunth; Rhodocactus corrugatus (Cutak) Backeberg;