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The prototypical cactus looks like a tall cylinder with spines. A tall cylinder would have the least amount of surface area facing the sun when it is directly overhead. This growth pattern provides an advantage to the cactus so that it will absorb the least amount of light when it is hottest time of day. The Creeping Devil (Stenocereus eruca) has the same cylindrical growth, but this cylinder is laying on its side. A cylinder on its side will absorb a lot of sunlight when the sun is directly overhead. The Creeping Devil gets around this by having extraordinarily wide spines on the side of the stem that is facing the sun. The spines not only are wide to intercept sunlight, but they are also white to reflect more light away from the stem of the cactus. These unique spines prevent the Creeping Devil from overheating under the beating, hot sun.
Interesting cactus known for growing horizontally instead of vertically. It's called the Creeping Devil because as it grows it "creeps" over other plants and blocks out their sunlight.
| Plant Types: | Groundcover, Perennial, Succulent |
| Light: | Full Sun |
| Height: | 1 foot |
| Zones: | 13a to 15b |
| Bloom Color: | White, Yellow |
| Bloom Seasons: | Early spring, Mid spring, Late spring |
| Special Features: | Deer resistant, North American native, Rabbit resistant |
| Shape: | Trailing |
| Type of Soil Preferred: | Humus-Rich, Sandy, Well-Drained |
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Sow seeds in spring at 70ºF (21ºC). Can also propagate from stem cuttings in summer.
Grows best in full sun, or full light, and prefers low humidity. In places where temperatures drop below 55ºF (13ºC), raise plants indoors in a warm greenhouse. A warm greenhouse has a minimum temperature of 55ºF (13ºC). During the day, temperatures should be set to 55-64ºF (13-18ºC) or above, and at night, the temperature should be at 55ºF (13ºC).
In warmer regions, grow Stenocereus in a desert garden.
Blooms flowers in spring or summer that are usually nocturnal. Followed by spiny, fleshy fruits.
Does best in gritty soil that is poor to moderately fertile, humus-rich and sharply draining. A mix of 3 parts standard cactus potting mix and 1 part leaf mold is fine for indoor plants. Water moderately from midspring to early fall. Best to keep completely dry at other times.
Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer monthly between midspring and early fall.
Maintain a healthy framework.
Affected by scale insects and aphids during flowering.