Old man of the Andes Oreocereus celsianus
Old man of the Andes (Oreocereus celsianus) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Cactaceae family, native to High Andes of southern Bolivia, northern Argentina and Peru, 2,500–4,000 m. It grows 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft) tall and 50 cm–1.5 m (20 in–4.9 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -10 °C (14 °F). Space plants about 80 cm (31 in) apart.
Plan Old man of the Andes in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Old man of the Andes at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Mature height | 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft) |
| Mature spread | 50 cm–1.5 m (20 in–4.9 ft) |
| Spacing | 80 cm (31 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6.5–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -10 °C (14 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 521–782 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | High Andes of southern Bolivia, northern Argentina and Peru, 2,500–4,000 m |
| Common in gardens of | 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Is Old man of the Andes toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Not poisonous; the spines are sharp.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Old man of the Andes
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Old man of the Andes
- How far apart should I plant Old man of the Andes?
- About 80 cm (31 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 50 cm–1.5 m (20 in–4.9 ft).
- Does Old man of the Andes need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Old man of the Andes need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Old man of the Andes?
- It tolerates about -10 °C (14 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- When does Old man of the Andes flower?
- About 521–782 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks.
- Is Old man of the Andes poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Not poisonous; the spines are sharp.
- What grows well with Old man of the Andes?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Old man of the Andes. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- LLIFLE Encyclopedia of Cacti and Succulents, LLIFLE (Living Encyclopedia), Italy
Notes and assumptions
- A plant of dry, sunny places: grow it in gritty, free-draining soil and water deeply but rarely; cold and wet together kill it faster than frost or drought.
- Upright columns wrapped in long, silky white hair that shields them from cold and fierce mountain sun, through which stiff yellow spines poke. Hardy to hard frost if dry; tubular red flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
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- Teddy-bear cholla Cylindropuntia bigelovii
- Engelmann's prickly pear Opuntia engelmannii
- Organ pipe cactus Stenocereus thurberi
- Mexican giant cardón Pachycereus pringlei