Cotton ball, Peruvian old man cactus
Espostoa lanata
Family: Cactaceae
What it is like
A cactus. It grows like a column or tree. It is woolly. It has prickles. The stems are 7 m tall and 10 cm across. The fruit are juicy and white with pink scales. The fruit are 3-4 cm long.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows on dry hills between 250-3,000 m above sea level. It is best in full sun and a well-drained soil. It needs a pH between 6-7.5. Queen Sirikit BG.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Ecuador, Kenya, Indonesia, Peru, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America (country/location of origin), Thailand
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten raw. They are sweet and juicy.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.
It is slow growing.
Its other names
Local names
Kaktus bola salju, Pajčevinasta espostoa, Snowball cactus, Soroco