TPM | Trichocereus pachanoi Monstrose

TPM is usually used as shorthand for Trichocereus pachanoi Monstrose, but the abbreviation is not always used cleanly.

This profile covers the pachanoi monstrose usage: melted, lumpy, crested or irregular pachanoi-type growth, plus Cactocereus TPM crosses and stock history.

Names and synonyms

• TPM – common abbreviation.
• Trichocereus pachanoi Monstrose – descriptive name.
• Tr. pachanoi Monstrose – product shorthand.
• Melted wax pachanoi / molten wax pachanoi – community-style descriptive wording.
• TPM-A / TPM-B – clone labels used in some references; not the same as TBM-A/TBM-B.

Classification

Monstrose/cristate pachanoi-type clone or growing form. Keep separate from Trichocereus peruvianus Monstrose/Nitrogen TPM where provenance points that way.

Provenance notes

Trichocereus.net notes that Sacred Succulents listed pachanoi monstrose Clone A and Clone B and explicitly warns that these are not the same as the bridgesii monstrose Clone A/B plants.

The same source suggests Clone A and Clone B may be very close or possibly different expressions of related material. Treat clone letters carefully unless the supplier label is clear.

Cactocereus has sold TPM cuts, TPM whole plants and many TPM crosses; those are useful stock-history records, but crosses should be labelled as crosses rather than the mother clone.

Visual traits

TPM material can show melted ribs, uneven areoles, crested fans, lumpy columns or normal-looking sections that later throw monstrose growth.

Cactocereus images here mainly show TPM crosses and crested TPM hybrid material, so they are useful examples of mutation expression but not proof of the original mother clone’s appearance.

Growth and cultivation notes

Grow as a Trichocereus, but expect irregular growth. Some sections may revert toward normal columns while other parts crest or become lumpy.

Cuttings and crests need good airflow and dry callusing. Dense crests can trap moisture, so avoid cold wet conditions.

Stock formats and Cactocereus notes

Cactocereus stock history includes TPM cuts, TPM whole plants, TPM crosses, and named crosses such as Sharxx Blue x TPM and TPM x Grandiflora ‘Rainbow Mountain’.

Source notes

• Trichocereus.net – pachanoi monstrose Clone A
• Trichocereus.net – pachanoi monstrose Clone B
• Cactocereus – TPM crosses

Last reviewed: 2026-06-17. This profile is part of the Cactocereus library build-out and will be refined as better provenance notes, photos and grower observations become available.