Brazilian Apple Cactus
Cereus jamacaru
Family: Cactaceae
This plant is often misidentified as Cereus hildmannianus or Cereus repandus which are similar species. But Cereus jamacaru is the species most often seen planted in Tucson and Phoenix and is commonly sold in the trade as “Peruvian Apple Cactus”. We are going to just call it “Brazilian Apple Cactus”, since that is where it is really from. Plants can get up to 15’ (some record plants are taller than 30’) and much-branched. Large, noctural flowers are fragrant and if pollinated, develop into pinkish red fruits with white flesh and large seeds that often burst open.
Plant in full to part sun. Low water is required but these plants can tolerate extra water in summer (2-3 times a month) which encourages them to grow a lot faster. Hardy into the low to mid 20s °F, the tips of the plant being more cold sensitive than the rest of the plant.
Plants are bat pollinated though many other organism may take advantage of the nectar and pollen. The fruits are edible for people as well as birds, and other animals.
The genus, Cereus, means torch or candle. The species, jamacaru, is believed to be derived from the indigenous Tupi word "mandacarú," meaning "spiny bundle." There are about 70 species of columnar cacti from South America.
Though called “Peruvian Apple Cactus” this species is endemic to the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte. It is a very common species in the semi-arid caatinga habitats.
In places with little to no frost, plants get impressively large. Photo by charlesavenengo on iNaturalist
The nocturnal flowers are fragrant ang bat-pollinated. Photo by Víctor de Paiva, iNaturalist
The fruit is pinkish red on the outside, and white with black seeds inside. They are delicious. Photo by Alexandre Lisboa Lima Ferreira, iNaturalist