Leucostele atacamensis subsp. pasacana (F.A.C.Weber ex Rümpler) Schlumpb.

🌱 Morphology
  An arborescent columnar cactus of extraordinary stature, which can reach 10–15 m in height and develop thick trunks and candelabra-like branches. The stems are greyish-green, up to about 50–60 cm in diameter, with approximately 20–30 wide ribs. The areoles enlarge considerably with age and produce spines that are initially yellowish or honey-colored, later turning greyish. Adult specimens can display numerous spines, some up to 25–30 cm, creating a spectacular silhouette.

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
It is distributed throughout northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia, mainly in the arid environments of the Puna, at an altitude of approximately 1,700 to 3,900 m. It grows on rocky slopes, dry valleys, and mountain xerophytic scrublands, often forming true open cardon forests. It belongs to the Cactaceae family, subfamily Cactoideae, and tribe Trichocereeae. Trichocereus atacamensis subsp. pasacana and Trichocereus pasacana are combinations that were widely used in the past.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 8b
It tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −10 ºC when kept dry and if specimens are well-acclimatized. Its high-altitude origin explains its remarkable cold resistance, although damp cold requires excellent drainage.

☀️ Lighting
It requires direct sun and very intense radiation to develop robust stems and dense spines. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended as a reference.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. In winter, it should be kept dry, especially during cold nights. From spring to autumn, it can receive deep, spaced watering, allowing the substrate to dry out completely between waterings. In cultivation, fast drainage is essential to avoid root problems during cold periods.

🌸 Flowering
The flowers emerge laterally on adult stems and are large, white to white-pinkish, about 10–14 cm long. The floral tube is densely covered with dark hairs. They remain functional both day and night and appear mainly from late spring to summer. The fruits are green, fleshy, covered with hairs, up to about 5 cm long, and are edible.

🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with a high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae, is recommended, applied once a month when watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.

📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

M-> 14cm x 14 cm

L->16cm x 16 cm

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the sent specimen may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly, because, after all, it is a living being! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.