Echinopsis candicans, still often referred to by its old name Trichocereus candicans, is a moderately sized columnar cactus that forms large clumps. It is heavily and viciously spined. The plant can reach up to 3 feet tall with clumps over 3 feet. The flowers are very large, white, scented and night-blooming. It is native to northern Argentina.

The Echinopsis candicans that we have in the Succulent Garden at Cal State Bakersfield was originally collected by myself as a cutting from a clump in the Wriggley Memorial Garden on Santa Catalina Island (way back in the 1980’s, and yes, I had permission). I rooted a cutting from my garden and brought it out to Cal State in 2002. It is perfectly hardy in Bakersfield having survived our coldest, wettest, and snowiest winters. It doesn’t seem to mind the full summer sun, though sometimes it can become a bit yellowed. The well-armed clumps make it hard to work around -- weeding is especially hard to do. The flowers, however, are worth the trouble. Blooming about an hour after sunset and staying open until the next midmorning, the flowers are huge, measuring a full 7 inches across! They also have the typical perfume of many white, night-blooming cacti. I’ve noticed that flowering seems to take place in late spring to early summer (can you really distinguish between those two in Bakersfield?)