Big Plym x Christie’s Peru (Tr. pachanoi x Tr. peruvianus) – Whole Plants

Big Plym x Christie’s Peru

A chunky, blue-leaning hybrid combining classic Tr. pachanoi structure with Tr. peruvianus colour.

Overview

A cross between Trichocereus pachanoi ‘Big Plym’ and Trichocereus peruvianus ‘Christie’s Peru’, combining strong structural growth, blue tones, and hybrid vigour. This hybrid leans towards Peruvianus-type traits, producing solid, well-defined columns with a glaucous finish.

Each plant shows slight variation due to hybrid genetics.

Genetics & Parentage

Trichocereus pachanoi ‘Big Plym’ – A pachanoi clone known for thick growth, strong form, and reliability.

Trichocereus peruvianus ‘Christie’s Peru’ – A peruvianus clone valued for blue colouration and classic Peruvian traits.

This cross combines structure and vigour with colour and character.

Classification within Trichocereus can vary between growers, but both parents are well established in cultivation for their distinct traits.

What to Expect

• Growth rate: Moderate to fast
• Mature form: Thick, columnar
• Colour: Blue-green to glaucous
• Spines: Moderate, variable
• Difficulty: Easy

Grower Notes

Performs well in UK greenhouse conditions and responds strongly to heat and feeding. More vigorous than many pure Peru types while maintaining good structure.

Why This One Stands Out

• Combines pachanoi strength with Peruvian colour
• Strong hybrid vigour
• Attractive blue tones
• Reliable grower

Synonyms

• Echinopsis peruviana
• Peruvian Torch cactus
• Wachuma
• San Pedro Macho
• Huachuma
• Trichocereus pachanoi f. peruvianus
• Trichocereus tacnaensis

Synonyms

• Echinopsis pachanoi
• San Pedro Cactus
• Wachuma

Some Additional Info

Trichocereus (except for bridgesii / Bolivian Torch) are very hardy and weather tolerant. Trichocereus pachanoi can handle temps as low as -9c for very short periods.

Native to South America, the earliest evidence of San Pedro was found in Peru, specifically, the Guitarrero cave of the Callejón de Huaylas valley. They are natively found in the Andes Mountains at altitude levels around 2000m – 3000m. San Pedro (the class of Trichocereus) is also found in regions like Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Trichocereus pachanoi are night bloomers with these gorgeous flowers doing their thing at night, you have to be quick or you will miss the event :-). A flower event is a special event as it can take anywhere from 5 years to 8 years for an adult plant to produce a flower. When they do, you do your happy dance, thank the cactus Gods, snap a million pics, harvest the pollen, and wait for the next event.

Growing Tips

Please see the tab called "Steps for Rooting" for rooting instructions where relevant. I have also created a few blog posts with some helpful guides that work for me personally:

• Cactus Substrate 101
• Trichocereus Cactus Care Sheet
• Cactus Pests & Treatment
• Common Cactus Terms

Care sheets and instructions are also sent via email after purchasing to make your journey as easy and fluid as possible. As always, if you have any questions, please use our Contact form or FB Messenger (bottom right) to get in touch.