Trichocereus hybrid ‘Athlete’ – OG UK Clone – Whole Plant

Overview

Trichocereus hybrid ‘Athlete’ is an old-school UK clone grown mainly for its pace, presence, and clean columnar form. It does not come with nailed-down provenance, so it is best treated honestly as a Trichocereus hybrid rather than forced into a tidy label.

That said, the plant has a very convincing peruvianus x bridgesii look to it. The blue-green skin, strong vertical ribs, and long golden spines suggest clear peruvianus-type influence, while the upright, fast columnar habit and overall structure lean towards bridgesii-type growth.

It is a handsome, vigorous clone, the sort of plant that earns greenhouse space because it actually does something with it.

Genetics & Parentage

The exact genetics are not confirmed.

Probable Trichocereus peruvianus influence
The blue-grey colouration, heavier spination, and bold rib structure point towards a peruvianus-type background.

Probable Trichocereus bridgesii influence
The strong vertical growth, slimmer columnar habit, and general speed suggest bridgesii-type influence may also be involved.

As with many older UK Trichocereus clones, classification can vary between growers. ‘Athlete’ is best understood as a named hybrid clone with likely peruvianus x bridgesii character, rather than a plant with fully documented parentage.

What to Expect

• Growth rate: Fast, this is where the name comes from
• Mature form: Tall, upright columnar growth with strong vertical ribs
• Colour: Blue-green to grey-blue under good light
• Spines: Golden to straw-coloured spines, becoming more pronounced in strong growing conditions
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate, straightforward if kept bright, airy, and free-draining

Grower Notes

‘Athlete’ is well suited to UK greenhouse growing. Give it strong light, good airflow, and a mineral-rich cactus substrate that dries properly between watering. In active growth it should move quickly, especially once rooted in and given enough warmth.

The blue tone will usually be strongest with bright light and steady greenhouse conditions. Like most Trichocereus hybrids, it can mark if pushed too hard while soft, so avoid excessive feeding or heavy watering in dull weather.

Why This One Stands Out

• Old-school UK Trichocereus clone
• Named for its impressive rate of growth
• Strong blue-green colour and clean columnar form
• Likely peruvianus x bridgesii influence
• A proper grower’s plant, vigorous, attractive, and not over-hyped
• Good choice for collectors who appreciate named clones with character, even when provenance is imperfect