Organ Pipe Cactus
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts
| Common name | Organ pipe cactus |
| Scientific name | Stenocereus thurberi |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Caryophyllales |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Genus | Stenocereus |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Type | Tall cactus with many upright stems |
| Habitat | Sandy, rocky, infertile desert land |
| Native range | Southern Arizona, Sonora and Baja California |
| Colours | Pale lavender or white flowers |
| Flowering season | April to June |
| Height | Stems up to 16 ft |
| Edible parts | Sweet fruit, eaten raw or as jelly |
The Organ pipe cactus plant, belonging to the genus Stenocereus, is also known as Pitaya Dulce, Sweet Cactus Fruit and Sweet Pitaya. This plant is a species of cactus and it originated in the dry and warm tropics. This plant has a multi-limbed growth habit, so it is very popular. To survive in drought and in heat, it stores water in its stem. When this plant matures, its root system absorbs any rain that falls. It grows as an evergreen plant. Next to the Saguaro cactus, it is the largest cactus plant.
Anatomy
The Organ pipe cactus plant has many narrow stems which rise vertically and above the ground level, growing from a single short trunk. These stems grow to a height of 16 feet and are about 6 inches thick. Its older plant produces flowers of funnel shape and these flowers are open at night and close in the morning. The flowers are pale lavender or white in color. This plant also produces fruits, and its fruits lose their spines at maturity. It ripens just before the rains of summer. Its flowers are pollinated by moths and bats at night and these flowers occur between April to June. The whole plant is covered in black spines, but as the plants get older they become lighter.
Habitat
The Organ pipe cactus plant is native to the United States and Mexico. It is found in Southern Baja California, Sonora and Rocky deserts. Organ pipe cactus National Monument is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and a U.S. National Monument, which is located in the extreme Southern Arizona and also shares a border with Sonora, the Mexican state. In the United States, this park is the only place where this plant grows wild. The park is very beautiful conservation in Southwest America. Its natural habitat is sandy, rocky and generally infertile and inhospitable.
Soil
The Organ pipe plant is slow growing and it prefers well drained soil. Gritty soil is also ideal for the plant. One part potting soil, one part sand and one part Perilite is good for the plant.
Planting
You can plant the organ pipe cactus plant in a container at home. It grows in hot and warm climate, where there is an appropriate room for a 16 foot tall plant. It is propagated by stem cuttings or from seed.
Watering
The organ pipe cactus plant requires watering in the early spring season. Over watering is not good for this plant. If planting is done in an unglazed clay pot, then it will allow excess moisture to evaporate.
Care
The Organ pipe cactus plant requires moderate amount of care and maintenance. It is very sensitive to frost. To conserve moisture and for preventing weeds, mulch of tiny rocks is ideal for the plant.
Temperature and Humidity
The organ pipe cactus plant requires an indoor temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and full sunlight. If the temperature is below 27 degree F, then it might suffer from cold injury.
Pests and Diseases
The organ pipe cactus plant is attacked by pest like scale sucking insects. If the soil is poorly drained, then root rot disease also affects the plant. This disease causes the roots to die and the stems become mushy and brown.
Uses
The fruit of organ pipe cactus plant is used as a food source for Centuries. Its pulp can be eaten raw and is also used in the making jellies. This fruit is also fermented into beverages. The Organ pipe cactus plant provides shelter to many creatures of the Desert such as birds and insects and it is also able to render much needed shade.
Organ pipe cactus FAQs
Why is it called organ pipe cactus?
It grows many narrow, upright stems from one short trunk, a bit like the pipes of a church organ. The stems can reach 16 feet tall.
Where does organ pipe cactus grow?
It grows in the deserts of southern Arizona, Sonora and Baja California. In the United States it grows wild in only one place, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in southern Arizona.
When do organ pipe cactus flowers bloom?
The pale lavender or white flowers bloom from April to June. They open at night and close in the morning, and moths and bats pollinate them.
Can you eat organ pipe cactus fruit?
Yes. The sweet fruit has been eaten for centuries. People eat the pulp raw, make it into jelly, or ferment it into drinks.
How do animals use organ pipe cactus?
The cactus gives shelter to birds, insects and other desert creatures. It also provides welcome shade.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
