Accession Count: 2
Common Name:
octopus cactus
Family Name:
Cactaceae
Botanical Name:
Stenocereus alamosensis
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Stenocereus alamosensis consists of many slender, arching stems branched at the base of the cactus that often form an impenetrable thickets that reach up to 30 feet wide. These green, fleshy stems measure about four inches in diameter, and have five to eight spines with either gray or white radial spines running the entire length of the stem. Throughout the spring, the octopus cactus blooms scarlet tubular flowers (1).
Compound:
Ste ala
Geographic Origin:
Mexico
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
S. alamosesis is native to the states of Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico. It can typically be found in lower elevations near the coast (1,2).
Cultivation Notes:
The young plant is a tangle of prostrate, slender stems that root profusely on the lower side. The octopus cactus requires no additional water, as it thrives off of rain fall. It is considered a hardy plant, but S. alamosensis is frost-tender and needs protection in such conditions. For the best growth, the octopus cactus must live in full sun exposure (1).
Ethnobotany:
The octopus cactus is not the most popular choice among landscapers. Although it is well-suited for transition and arid landscapes, it is rarely planted due to its expansiveness (1).
Height:
11 - 15 feet
Width:
20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Fall
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Red
Function:
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Citations:
1. Turner, Raymond M, et al.
Sonoran Desert Plants: An Ecological Atlas. University of Arizona Press, 1995.
