Trichocereus scopulicola

Here is a local scop in Melbourne's suburbs
As you can see it loves the climate.. fattest one i've ever seen.

That's a real beauty. I really like the "chunkiness" of this particular species' growth habit.

I do like scops as landscaping plants; I think they're a good choice for gardeners who want to grow cacti but are put off by the spines. A kid- and pet-friendly cactus, perhaps?

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I think they're a good choice for gardeners who want to grow cacti but are put off by the spines. A kid- and pet-friendly cactus, perhaps?

I think you are on to a winner there Lach.


though i think bunnings are ahead of you though..
They are probs the commonest seen Tricho in Bunnings... at least here in Melbourne, although I'm inclined to believe that a lot of what they sell is actually scop x pachanoi.

they are not that common as garden plants just yet... pachanoi is commoner
and spachianus is commoner still
in terms of trichos
but Opuntia ficus-indica and Cereus peruvianus are winning in terms of general cacti.
at least in Vic.

Interestingly I heard and saw a pic years back of a successful cross between T. scop and Echinopsis subdenudata (semi-nudum or whatever its name is)... the common one that's almost spineless with the big white areoles and astro-like appearance with the white flower.... interesting to think that the trichos just a taller version of a globular echinopsis. Would have been easier if they were never differentiated at all and were all called Echinopsis from the start.

Also I heard that this is now classed by some under Echinopsis lageniformis (new name for Trichocereus bridgesii). I guess if you imagine a normal bridgesii without spines they look pretty similar don't they. kinda like a spiness lageniformis cultivar.

Actually I've been pondering this for quite a while... is it possible that the ex. Trichocereus Echinopsis group; pachanoi/bridgesii/scopulicola/peruvianus and possibly more are all just different forms of the one extremely variable species?

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though i think bunnings are ahead of you though..
They are probs the commonest seen Tricho in Bunnings... at least here in Melbourne, although I'm inclined to believe that a lot of what they sell is actually scop x pachanoi.

I've got a few of the Bunnings plants... and I agree. I don't believe they are a pure species at all, and I strongly suspect they're pach x scop too. My samples are only seedlings so their morphology probably isn't a reliable indicator; however at this stage it seems that they tend towards 6- or 7-ribbed forms (all the scops I have seen are 5-ribbed), and the ribs are less pronounced thant the common PC pedro yet more defined than the structure seen in scops.

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Actually I've been pondering this for quite a while... is it possible that the ex. Trichocereus Echinopsis group; pachanoi/bridgesii/scopulicola/peruvianus and possibly more are all just different forms of the one extremely variable species?

The more I look at the whole Trichocereus genus, the more I tend to agree with you. The variation among the forms of pachanoi strongly suggests to me that the Trichs have some significant variation even at species level. The analogy that's been running through my mind is this: consider dog breeds. Compare a Chihuahua to a St Bernard to a Corgi... aside from basic skeletal structure these three animals have little in common with each other; yet they are all Canis familiaris. The differences - at least to my eye - are far slighter between Trichocereus.

Yeah I'd be interested to see what these scop x pachs look like when they mature a bit, mine are still only very small seedlings also.

I quite like the dog breed analogy, which would make even more sense if at least some of these Trichocereus species are semi-domesticated in South America.

I too think you got lots of scop and scop-pach hybrids in ozland.

And yeah, the limits of said [+more] Trichocereus species delve in other species . These are most probably a couple of species that have hybridised between them a lot

The fact that you in Ozland got many scop-pach hybrids is probably from the fact you could not import easily anything from a point and on, so you hybridised what you had, while I am not so sure scopoculica and pachanoi areas intercross in the wild....

Beautiful plant btw....

Scops tend a lot to increase/decrease their width don't they?

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A kid- and pet-friendly cactus, perhaps?

i need the biggest and baddest spines in my house to deter the kid & pet or at least leave a lasting impression so they wont go near them ever again

lewis wrote:

Here is a local scop in Melbourne's suburbs
As you can see it loves the climate.. fattest one i've ever seen.

Does anyone know of a local mail order supplier for T.scopulicola seeds? While plants can be got from Collectors Corner, the seeds appear to be scarce. Which is strange considering the scop's unique appearance. Why seeds? - I find it's much more fun that way.

Thanks.

Lachy wrote:

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though i think bunnings are ahead of you though..
They are probs the commonest seen Tricho in Bunnings... at least here in Melbourne, although I'm inclined to believe that a lot of what they sell is actually scop x pachanoi.

I've got a few of the Bunnings plants... and I agree. I don't believe they are a pure species at all, and I strongly suspect they're pach x scop too. My samples are only seedlings so their morphology probably isn't a reliable indicator; however at this stage it seems that they tend towards 6- or 7-ribbed forms (all the scops I have seen are 5-ribbed), and the ribs are less pronounced thant the common PC pedro yet more defined than the structure seen in scops.

It may be that Bunnings and other chain stores use different suppliers depending on the state. For example my local Bunnings get their cacti primarily from Collectors Corner and I've never seen any tricho species on offer there. I did however spot a Collectors Corner T.Scop at the local KMart and bought it. The dark skin color and texture is very different from other trichos and has the distinctive fat almost spineless ribs. When I got it it was starting to lose a rib - from 6 to 5.

Two summers later it's now at 21 cm. Thus far I've had it under cover. At what size would it be safe to put outside? Thanks.

A good portion of each Bunnings inventory depends on the distributers, and the sales people that work the accounts at each store. 3 of the Bunnings in my area have (for the time being) dropped the cacti from Hamilton's and only have Collector's Corner ones now. That was the decision of the salesperson for this region, is what I was told.

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Two summers later it's now at 21 cm. Thus far I've had it under cover. At what size would it be safe to put outside? Thanks.

I grow virtually all my plants outside, fully exposed to the elements, and I am yet to see any rotting or loss of trichocereus species.

The only things that you really have to watch out for is sunburn - really only an issue on plants during the height of summer, and even then only on plants that are not used to bright sun - and to ensure that your soil has adequate drainage. Scops seem to be the most tolerant of excess water, so I reckon you will be fine.

By the way, Collector's Corner has a bunch of T. scopulicola for sale on ebay right now for $6 each.

Lachy wrote:

I grow virtually all my plants outside, fully exposed to the elements, and I am yet to see any rotting or loss of trichocereus species.

The only things that you really have to watch out for is sunburn - really only an issue on plants during the height of summer, and even then only on plants that are not used to bright sun - and to ensure that your soil has adequate drainage. Scops seem to be the most tolerant of excess water, so I reckon you will be fine.

Thanks for the advice. I'll place it where it's a little shaded and gets morning sun. Will probably wait until next spring - no point tempting the snails

IXOXI wrote:

By the way, Collector's Corner has a bunch of T. scopulicola for sale on ebay right now for $6 each.

Yes. It appears to be one of their regular lines on ebay. One assumes they're growing and selling a lot of them.

I just bought a couple of them

IXOXI wrote:

I just bought a couple of them

That's what I would do - given the postage cost for one

I hope you like them. It's certainly one of my favourite trichs for looks and build.