Giant club Cactus
Cereus repandus

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

A tall cactus. It grows 3-5 m tall. It is like a low branching tree with columns. It can grow 16 m tall, but is often lower and 3-5 m high. The columns are 10-25 cm thick. They are dull green or bluish. There are 5-8 ribs and the furrows are deep. The spines are brown and 2 cm apart. There are 4-7 spines spreading out and a reddish brown central one. The side ones are 1 cm long and the central one is 2 cm long. The flowers appear at night. They are white with greenish-brown outer petals. They are 16 cm long. The fruit are apple sized, yellow and covered with spines. The spines brush off when the fruit is fully ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in drier areas. It can tolerate very high temperatures. It may be able to tolerate light frosts. It needs a sunny position and well-drained soil. It suits acid soils. It needs bright light and a temperature above 10°C. It is drought tolerant. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Adelaide Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Antilles, Argentina, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Curacao, East Africa, Europe, France, Guianas, Hawaii, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Netherlands Antilles, North America, Pacific, Peru, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Tasmania, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh or processed. They are used to make drinks, jams, preserves, jellies, syrups and ice cream. The young stems have the spines removed and are eaten as a vegetable. The peel of the fruit can be candied.

It is becoming a popular commercial fruit.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. They are planted in widely spaced rows. It can be used as a hedge.

Fruit are harvested when fully ripe.

Its other names

Local names

Cactus apple, Cadushi, Cardon higo, Hedge cactus, Incataya, Kadushi, Kaktus apel, Koubo, Long cot, Noc tru, Perujski stebričar, Peruvian Apple cactus, Pitahaya, Pitayas, Tampana, Xuong rong khe

Synonyms

Acanthocereus horribarbis (Salm-Dyck) Borg; Cactus peruvianus L.; Cactus repandus L.; Cephalocereus atroviridis (Backeb.) Borg; Cereus atroviridis Backeb.; Cereus gracilis Haw.; Cereus grenadensis Britton & Rose; Cereus margaritensis J. R, Johnst.; Cereus peruvianus (L.) Mill.; Pilocereus atroviridis (Backeb.) Backeb.; Subpilocereus margaritensensis (J.R. Johnson) Backeberg; Subpilocereus repandus (L.) Backeberg; and others