General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Plant Height: 12 - 30 inches
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Pink
Red
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Houseplant
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Offsets
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM
Conservation status: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation status:
Conservation status: Least Concern
Image
Common names
  • Old Man of the Mountain

Photo Gallery
Location: In my garden, Falls Church, VA
Date: July 2019
Location: Baja California
Date: 2021-03-07
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: December 13, 2017
Location: Baja California
Date: 2024-03-24
View from above, 8" pot
Location: Baja California
Date: 2018-12-23
5 inch pot
Location: Baja California
Date: 2018-02-15
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2018-05-22
Location: Botanical Garden 'Botanicactus' - Mallorca
Date: 2010-11-06
Location: Baja California
Date: 2019-04-05
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2018-05-22
Location: In my garden, Falls Church, VA
Date: July 2019
Location: Botanical Garden of Berlin
Date: 2012-07-23

Date: 2013-03-11

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Crest Gardens. Used with permission.
  • Uploaded by Joy
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Jan 16, 2019 1:11 PM concerning plant:
    Columnar cactus with white hair and red/yellow/brown spines, from higher elevations in the Andes. Stems grow to about 3-4 inches in diameter and 20 inches high. Smaller and lower than the related O. celsianus. Branches at the base to form clusters of several stems. Pink/red flowers. Fast growing from seed and relatively common in cultivation.

    Very attractive ornamental plant. Develops brighter, thicker, and fuller hair in full sun. The hair acts as a sunscreen, making the plant very tolerant of extreme exposure in mild climates.

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