One of my VERY favorites!

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:32 am

Not many blooms rival the beauty of Echinocereus pentalophus. I didn't have many buds this year, but it's still outstanding! If I had 100 of these blooms, I swear I'd remove all the green stigmas and cook 'em up in a wok! They look scrumptious!

Bill in SC

John C · Post by **John C** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 2:34 am

Nice one!

Loph · Post by **Loph** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 12:43 pm

I'd remove all the green stigmas and cook 'em up in a wok!

LOL, the stigma lobes look like those green noodles made from beans....

a cool flower indeed! they have other colour forms as well? or is pink the norm?

peterb · Post by **peterb** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:30 pm

There is a white-flowered cultivar.

Beautiful, Bill!

peterb

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:32 pm

And... I have two of the white cultivars rooted!

Bill in SC

fanaticactus · Post by **fanaticactus** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 3:10 pm

Bill, those flowers are gorgeous. Luckily, the pentalophus stem that fell off (which I 'rescued')and impaled itself on the Euphorbia below it in the greenhouse has developed a couple of small roots. When it comes time to pot it up, what kind of soil have you found works well for it? The standard desert mix? Extra grit or charcoal? Extra organic matter or minerals? I'm looking forward for it growing into a blooming-size plant. Is it a fast, medium or slow grower? Thanks for any info you can send along.

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 3:30 pm

I use heavy grit in all my cactus containers. That said, my Echinocereus pentalophus plants themselves don't look all that great, so I'm not sure the mix, or my conditions agrees with them. For some reason, Echinocereus in general grow here, but don't really flourish like I have seen them grow elsewhere. I dearly love the genus, and hope I can eventually get a grasp on their needs.
Bill in SC

cooky173 · Post by **cooky173** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:04 pm

Have you tried eating the fruit? It has a lemony taste. I waited till the fruit split open before eating.

cactuspolecat · Post by **cactuspolecat** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:40 pm

Very nice Bill, it's probably not the most sought after Echinocereus, but it still wows with the flowers.

Mine flowered for the first time last year...

CP

Post by **daiv** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:49 pm

I find pentalophus and cineracens very similar, but I think the flowers on pentalophus are more dramatic due to the white center. Hope you get some flowers on your white ones Bill!

Bill in SC · Post by **Bill in SC** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:07 pm

Yours look GREAT, CP! Daiv, I won't get white flowers this year, but hopefully next. I'd like to cross the white and the pink.
BB

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:43 pm

Bill those are nice. I think that Echinocactus is one of my favorite genera other then of course Opuntia...

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 4:52 am

Im still waiting for mine to bloom!

but great flower bill!

Mark

Arjen · Post by **Arjen** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:26 am

ok, it is now sought after here! I am especially fond of purple flowers and this is one of the most beautiful ones I have ever seen. I'm curious what the white one looks like.