Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

• Echinocereus pentalophus f. monstruosus hort.

• Echinocereus pentalophus (DC.) H.P.Kelsey & Dayton
• Cereus pentalophus DC.
• Cereus pentalophus var. radicans DC.
• Cereus pentalophus var. simplex DC.
• Cereus pentalophus var. subarticulatus DC.
• Echinocereus leptacanthus (DC. ex Salm-Dyck) K.Schum.
• Cereus leptacanthus. DC. ex Salm-Dyck
• Echinocereus pentalophus var. leptacanthus Lem. ex Rümpler
• Echinocereus pentalophus f. cristatus hort.
• Echinocereus pentalophus f. monstruosus hort.

• Echinocereus pentalophus subs. leonensis (Mathsson) N.P.Taylor
• Cereus leonensis (Mathsson) Orcutt
• Echinocereus leonensis Mathsson
• Echinocereus pentalophus var. leonensis (Mathsson) N.P.Taylor

• Echinocereus pentalophus subs. procumbens (Engelm.) W.Blum & Mich.Lange
• Cereus procumbens Engl.
• Echinocereus pentalophus var. procumbens (Engelm.) P.Fourn. in P.Fourn.
• Echinocereus procumbens (Engelm.) Lem.
• Echinocereus pentalophus var. procumbens f. albiflorus hort.
• Echinocereus procumbens var. longispinus Hirscht

Description: It forms large low clusters of green and pink stems, some only a 5 mm across. The spines are few and usually limited to the basal portion of the stem. Sometimes it will have a normal "patch" and remain mostly monstrous. This cultivar shows many growing variations, with different monstrous shapes.
Flowers: Up to 7 cm long, brilliant lilac-pink with a distinct white throat can almost hide the plant
Blooming season: Blossoms in mid April-may and eventually a second time in late summer.

Cultivation and Propagation: The E. pentalopus forma mostruosa is usually found grafted on stronger stocks, but it grows quite well on its own roots too. It needs good drainage, keep well ventilated, as it is prone to root rot. Protect from frosts and freezes. Hates the full sun in summer. Water regularly from March to October. It should be kept in a cool place during winter rest (it can briefly tolerate temp. as low as -7°C). Without this cool winter period these plants normally won't get many buds. Stems may possibly become purple and limp in winter, but revitalize in early spring. Feeding may not be necessary at all if the compost is fresh then, feed in summer only if the plant hasn't been repotted recently. Do not feed the plants from September onwards as this can cause lush growth which can be fatal during the darker cold months.
Propagation: By vegetative propagation: grafting or stem cuttings from adult plants.