Appendix: torch cactus cultivars

Torch cacti are a class of Trichocereus x Echinopsis hybrids that produce large trumpet-like blooms in a range of colors. Flowers are usually open for just one or two days, with the bloom more likely to last a second day in cooler weather. There are hundreds if not thousands of torch cactus cultivars, many of which were developed by local nurseries here in Tucson.

The varieties photographed below are those in my personal collection. Flower color can be quite different the second day, which is also documented. Names originate from the nurseries where the cacti are bred but labels occasionally get mixed at the source. Shoot me an email if you recognize any mis-identifications! (A few had no ID so I provided a unofficial name; they are marked with an asterisk).

  • Apricot Glow torch cactus bloom, large wide ruffly petals, the center petals a golden yellow deepening to a peach-orange color at the outer petals. The pistil and stamen filaments are cream-colored with a light green center.

    Apricot Glow

  • AZ Sunrise torch cactus bloom, a very bloom with rounded floppy center petals, the outer ones narrow and pointed. The flower is hot pink with a slightly violet undertone, and an orange streak up the center. The pistil and stamen filaments are cream colored.

    AZ Sunrise

  • B4 Pink torch cactus bloom, a large flower with rose-like layers of petals that are a saturated Barbie-pink color, fading to a slightly lighter pink edges. A subtle orange stripe runs down the center of the petals. The pistil and stamen filaments are cream-colored.

    B4 Pink

  • Big Bird Yellow torch cactus bloom, a saturated golden yellow with yellow pistil and stamen filaments. The bloom is large with pointed petals.

    Big Bird Yellow

  • Blush torch cactus bloom, a rosy pink flower with layers of wide petals and narrow pointed ones around the outside. The pistil and stamen filaments are yellow.

    Blush

  • Burnt Orange torch cactus bloom, a large flower with wide tulip petals in the center and narrow pointed petals on the outside. The flowers have an even deep orange color, with yellow pistil and stamen filaments.

    Burnt Orange

  • Campfire torch cactus bloom, a flower with dense layers of petals like a rose, with narrow pointed petals around the outside. The petals are orange at the base with pink-tipped petals, appearing hot pink in the center with red-orange layers fanning out. The pistil and stamen filaments are cream-colored.

    Campfire

  • Caribbean Dancer torch cactus bloom, large wide petals that are somewhat cupped like a lotus flower. The petals have a gradient from a golden center to a hot pink border. The pistil and stamen filaments are light yellow with a light green center.

    Caribbean Dancer

  • Eastslope Orange

  • Embers

  • Epic torch cactus bloom, with layers of hot pink petals, the inner petals wide and pointed, the outer petals slender. The pistil and stamen filaments are butter yellow.

    Epic

  • First light torch cactus bloom, large light-colored blooms with layered round petals. Inner petals are near-white with yellow bases and a faint pink line down the center. The pink grows deeper on the subsequent layers of petals, becoming a deep pink stripe on the exterior layer. The pistil and stamen filaments are light yellow with a light green center, so the flower has a light gradient of green, yellow, white, and pink. This one is very lovely!

    First Light

  • Glorious

  • Hookypiensis

  • Hookypiensis day 2

  • Hot Orchid

  • Jimmy Orange

  • Lemonade

  • Lemonade day 2

  • Maggie Mae torch cactus bloom, a compact flower with wide rounded petals and ultra-saturated red-pink color. The pistil and stamen filaments are cream-colored.

    Maggie Mae

  • Major Eruption

  • Major Eruption day 2

  • Neon Dawn

    Two flower types on the same plant →

  • Neon Dawn torch cactus typical bloom, wide pointed petals with a deeply saturated pink center that fades to light pink at the edges. The outer petals are deeper pink, thin and pointed.

    Neon Dawn typical bloom

  • Neon Dawn "Cheap Frills"*

  • Oh Wow

  • Orange torch cactus bloom, a pumpkin-orange pointed petals with slightly red-pink tinged edges, light yellow pistil and stamen filaments with a light green center.

    Orange

  • Orange Squirrel

  • Orangeade

  • Peaches & Cream torch cactus bloom, compact flowers with layered rounded petals, and an even coral orange-pink tone. The pistil and stamen filaments are yellow.

    Peaches & Cream

  • Peaches & Cream torch cactus bloom on day two, the orange tone has faded from the flowers leaving them a subtle rose-pink color.

    Peaches & Cream day 2

  • Pink torch cactus bloom, large flowers with pointed petals in even layers, the central petals light pink and the outer petals deep pink with a gradient of layers between. The pistil and stamen filaments are butter yellow.

    Pink

  • Pink and Wine torch cactus bloom, large pointed petals with a hot pink center and purple-pink edges. The pistil and stamen filaments are white with a light green center.

    Pink & Wine

  • Pink Orange

  • Pink Orange torch cactus bloom, compact flowers with layered rounded petals, pink-colored with a slight orange stripe down the center of each petal. The pistil and stamen filaments are butter-yellow.

    Pink Orange day 2

  • Propane torch cactus bloom, a saturated red-orange with rounded slightly frilly petals. The pistil and stamen filaments are cream-colored.

    Propane

  • Radiance torch cactus bloom, large wide petals with a ruffled layered center, the petals having a vibrant orange center deepening to pink at the edges. The pistil and stamen filaments are butter-yellow.

    Radiance

  • Red torch cactus bloom, a saturated pure red flower with layered rounded petals and narrow pointed ones around the outer layer. The pistil and stamen filaments are butter-yellow.

    Red

  • Rum Runner*

  • Too Pink torch cactus bloom, vibrant Barbie-pink flowers with many layers of wide rounded petals like a camelia. The pistil and stamen filaments are butter yellow.

    Too Pink

  • Volcanic Sunset torch cactus bloom, large rounded petals with many layers like a camellia. The flowers have an even red-orange color, with butter-yellow pistil and stamen filaments.

    Volcanic Sunset

  • Volcanic Sunset torch cactus bloom on the second day, the color faded to salmon-pink-orange.

    Volcanic Sunset day 2

  • Yes