Cardon Grande Cactus.
Echinopsis terscheckii, Cactus Family ( Cactaceae ), Cardon Grande Cactus. Also called: Echinopsis terscheckii, Golden Saguaro, Argentine Saguaro, San Pedro Cactus, or Cardon Santo �sacred cactus, Card�n, Trichocereus terscheckii, Cereus terscheckii, Pilocereus terscheckii, Trichocereus werdermannianus, Echinopsis werdermanniana.

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The Cardon Grande is probably the largest Echinopsis. It is occasionally used in landscaping as a faster growing substitute to the Saguaro. It is a columnar cactus branching above ground, reaching over 25 feet tall.

Its branches are about 10 inches in diameter with 8 to 14 ribs. It has large brownish areoles about 1 inch apart. They also have 8 to 15 yellowish spines, 3 1/4 to 4 inches long.

The outer half inch of skin and flesh was used traditionally by the indians for religious purposes.

We have been told that giving this plant a little extra water, good soil and some fertilizer will make a young Cardon Grande plant grow at about a foot per year in the desert areas of Arizona.

Can take full sun but does best in some shade in Phoenix.

Quick Notes:

Height: Up to 30 feet tall. Most are about 20 - 25 feet. Spreading to about 12 feet.

Flowers: Its flowers, are white, nocturnal, up to 8 inches long, about 5 - 6 inches in diameter. They can bloom several times a year.

Blooming Time: Southern Arizona, March - April. Phoenix Area, April - May.

Fruit & Seeds: The fruits, round or oblong blue fruits that are about 1/2 inch in diameter.

Branches: Its branches are about 10 inches in diameter with 8 to 14 ribs. It has large brownish areoles about 1 inch apart.

Spines: .8 to 15 yellowish - gold spines, 3 1/4 to 4 inches long.

Fruit: The fruits, round or oblong blue fruits that are about 1/2 inch in diameter.

Seeds: Black oval - about 1/32 inch in length.

Found: Native of northwestern Argentina at Catamarca Province, altitude 1,600 feet; & on the western slopes of the Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador

Elevation: 0 -3,800 Feet.

Hardiness: Claimed to be hardy at Zone 8b. But, we have read several reports where people have had difficulty with freezing at that zone. Freeze damage between 15 �F - 17 �F.

USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F)

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Some Shade

Habitat: Lower elevations where water is available. It grows well in sand, sandy loam. It needs good drainage and aeration. It is remarkably tolerant of alkali.

Miscellaneous: Maintenance: Low. Not salt tolerant. Photos Taken Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Superior, Arizona. August 25, 2008.