Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Peruvian Old Man
Peruvian Old Man, also called cottonball cactus, is a woolly column cactus from the western Andes of Ecuador and Peru. Its stems are covered in soft-looking white wool that hides stiff spines. In cultivation it usually stays about 3 feet tall and grows slowly, so it suits pots and planters. Mature plants open white to purplish flowers at night from a woolly patch near the tips.
Best for: patio pots and planters with afternoon shade, and woolly accents in cactus collections.
In cultivation it usually stays about 3 feet tall and grows slowly. That makes it a good fit for patio pots and planters.
It does not like Phoenix summer heat. A spot with morning sun and afternoon shade keeps it healthy.
Mature plants open 2 inch white to purplish flowers at night in late spring and early summer. The flowers come from a woolly patch near the stem tips.
Afternoon sun in a Phoenix summer is too much for it, so give it shade then. It rots easily when cold and wet, so keep it dry in winter.
- Group planting3 ft apart
- Open planting4 ft apart
Wait about a week after planting before the first water. Then water every other week while nights stay above 60°F. In cooler weather, water only after two to four weeks without rain.
Water deeply in the warm months only when the soil is dry, and give little or none in winter. Plants in pots dry out faster and need water more often than plants in the ground.
It does not like Phoenix summer heat. Plant it where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade, and keep the same side facing the sun as in the nursery.
Below about 25°F, frost can scar the stem tips. Cover the tips with foam cups or frost cloth that reaches the ground, not plastic. Take covers off in the morning.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Can Peruvian old man take Phoenix sun?
It cannot take all-day sun in a Phoenix summer. Plant it where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade.
How big does it get?
In cultivation it usually stays about 3 feet tall, though wild plants grow much larger. It grows slowly, so buy a larger size if you want height now.
Does the wool hide spines?
Yes, stiff spines are hidden in the white wool. Handle it with gloves, even though it looks soft.
How often should I water it?
Water plants in the ground about once a month in summer, and potted plants about weekly. Keep it dry in winter, since it rots easily when cold and wet.
Is it cold hardy?
It takes about 25°F for short periods, but frost should be avoided. Cover it or move pots under cover on frost nights.
When does it bloom?
Mature plants bloom at night in late spring and early summer, with white to purplish flowers. Look for them after dark on older plants.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, its slow growth suits patio pots. Use a fast-draining mix and a pot with a drainage hole.
How is it different from Peruvian old woman?
Old man stays smaller in cultivation and has shorter spines. Old woman has central spines up to 4 inches and darker columns.
How far apart should I plant it?
Plant them about 3 to 4 feet apart, center to center. The Spacing tab on this page has the numbers.
Peruvian Old Man for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Peruvian Old Man, Espostoa lanata, is a slow, woolly column cactus from the Andes. In Phoenix it needs afternoon shade in summer. Below are the questions Valley homeowners ask about it, with what to do for each.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Peruvian old man cactus in Phoenix
This woolly Andean cactus does not like Phoenix summer heat. Give it morning sun and afternoon shade.
How big Espostoa lanata gets
In cultivation it usually stays about 3 feet tall and grows slowly. Wild plants grow much taller.
Watering Peruvian old man
Water it about once a month in summer in the ground, and about weekly in pots. Keep it dry in winter to avoid rot.
Peruvian old man in pots
Its slow growth and modest size suit patio pots and planters. Plant it in a fast-draining mix in a pot with a drainage hole.
Frost care for Peruvian old man
It tolerates about 25°F briefly, but frost should be avoided. Cover it on cold nights or move pots under cover.
Peruvian old man flowers
White to purplish flowers open at night in late spring and early summer on mature plants.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.