Star Huancabamba (Cuttings)

All cuttings will be thick and ready to root. Please allow 5-7 days to dry if fresh cut.

'Star Huancabamba' is a fascinating plant with a rich history and cultural significance. Here's what is known about it:

About Trichocereus CV 'Star Huancabamba'
Origin: The 'Huancabamba' in its name directly refers to Huancabamba, a town in northern Peru, located in the foothills of the Andes mountains. This region is widely considered a major spiritual center, known for its sacred lagoons (like Lake Shimbe and La Luna) and a large number of traditional healers (curanderas and curanderos). The cactus brought to the USA and introduced to the community by an individual known as "Star" is the origin of the "Star Huancabamba" cultivar. Star specifically mentioned collecting specimens from these sacred lakes, noting them as "slim with small sharp spines."

Species Relation: 'Huancabamba' is generally considered a Peruvian Torch cactus (Trichocereus Peruvianus), but there are some questions and discussions online about whether it might be a hybrid with the more well-known San Pedro cactus (Trichocereus Pachanoi). This potential for hybridization means that seedlings grown from 'Huancabamba' seeds might exhibit some diversity. It is also sometimes referred to as Trichocereus Macrogonus var. Macrogonus or related to Trichocereus Pachanoi from the Huancabamba region.

Characteristics:

Growth Habit: It is a tall, stately, columnar cactus. In the wild, it can reach impressive heights of up to nearly 20 feet (6 meters) and grows relatively fast (up to 18 inches per year).

Appearance: Descriptions often mention it being "slim with small sharp spines." Trichocereus Macrogonus varieties generally have erect stems with 6-8 ribs, circular areoles, and needle-like spines, which can vary in length and number.

Flowers: Like many Trichocereus species, it produces spectacularly beautiful white flowers that typically open at night.

Hardiness: It is relatively frost-hardy, able to withstand temperatures down to 26°F (-3°C), but is unlikely to survive year-round below USDA Zone 9 without protection.

Cultivation: It takes well to container culture and is generally easy to care for if given proper soil (well-draining), sufficient light (at least 6 hours of bright sun), and appropriate watering (can tolerate more water than some cacti).

Traditional and Spiritual Use: Like San Pedro and other Peruvian Torch cacti, 'Huancabamba' has a long history of use in traditional medicine and spiritual/shamanistic practices in Peru. These cacti are known to contain mescaline, a psychoactive alkaloid, and have been used in rituals from pre-Columbian times, with archaeological evidence dating back to around 1300 BCE. The Huancabamba region, with its sacred lagoons, is particularly associated with such practices.

Who is 'Star' named after?
The "Star" in 'Star Huancabamba' refers to the individual who introduced this particular genetic line or collection of Trichocereus from the Huancabamba region to the wider cactus community, particularly in the USA. This individual, often simply referred to as "Star," brought cuttings or seeds from plants growing at the sacred lakes in Huancabamba, Peru. Therefore, the name 'Star Huancabamba' acknowledges both the geographical origin of the plant and the person responsible for its introduction and popularization within cultivation circles.