Heliocereus speciosus

RHS Plant Profile

sun cactus

RHS 2003

Cactus Succulent Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

Has slender, angled, erect or ascending stems with yellow to pale brown spines and trumpet-shaped red flowers to 17cm across, the sepals tinged with purple

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1B

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cactaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Heliocereus are perennial cacti with ribbed, erect or trailing stems, spiny on the ribs, with large funnel-shaped flowers in early summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: C Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in an epiphytic cactus compost in bright filtered light and high humidity. During the growing season water moderately and feed with a half strength balanced liquid fertilizer monthly. Keep just moist in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 19 - 21°C in early spring or by offsets

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free