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Saturday, December 19, 2020

Peruvian Apple Cactus or Cereus Repandus blooming and fruiting!

 My Peruvian Apple Cactus was blooming heavily this summer and the tasty fruit are ready to eat.    The bees were loving the blossoms and there will be 4-8 bees in each bloom - bathing in almost bathing in pollen.



This plant is great for water-wise landscapes as it doesn't take much water and if very majestic when it matures.   It will actually get quite large so some people will cut it back.   

Here are pictures of mine and also a close up of the fruit.  The edible fruit starts forming as the base of the blossom and will swell into into a round ball.  It will turn red when it's ripe



The fruit is a sweet white flesh with little black seeds.   It's similar in appearance and taste to dragon fruit.   Its my favorite time of the year as I will take one off and eat it while I am walking around the farm.   They are very tasty.    There are little thorns on it so be careful when picking them.



They are easy to propagate.  Break off a branch and the end where it was connected to the mother plant into some soft damp soil and it will root over a 3-5 weeks.    You will see new branches growing when it's rooted and established.


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