Cacti - Espostoa Melanostele

Espostoa melanostele – The Peruvian Old Lady: A Touch of Andean Majesty

Bring a piece of the Andean highlands into your collection with Espostoa melanostele, lovingly known as the Peruvian Old Lady. This striking cactus stands tall with a graceful columnar form, wrapped in a soft coat of white wool and accented by golden spines. Both elegant and unique, it’s a living sculpture that makes a standout addition for cactus collectors and desert plant enthusiasts alike.

A Woolly Wonder:

Snowy “Old Lady” Coat:
Wrapped in dense, white wool-like fibers, this cactus earns its nickname with charm. Beyond aesthetics, this fluffy coat offers vital protection against intense sun exposure, just as it does in its native Peruvian habitat.

Golden Spines Beneath the Frost:
Peek through the white covering and you’ll spot vivid golden-yellow spines, creating a striking visual contrast that adds to the plant’s allure.

Elegant, Upright Form:
Espostoa melanostele grows slowly into a tall, slender column—sometimes branching from the base to form a multi-stemmed spectacle. Its dignified silhouette makes it a standout in any cactus collection.

 Built for Harsh Beauty:

• Drought-Resistant Resilience: Perfectly adapted to dry, sunny environments, this cactus thrives on minimal care—making it ideal for arid gardens, containers, or sunny indoor spaces.
• Slow-Growing Treasure: Its deliberate pace makes each inch of growth all the more meaningful—an ideal choice for patient collectors and long-term displays.

Care Tips:

• Light: Prefers full sun to bright, indirect light.
• Water: Water sparingly. Allow soil to dry out completely between waterings, especially during the cooler months.
• Soil: Use a well-draining cactus mix to replicate its natural, rocky environment.
  

Though flowering is uncommon in cultivation, mature Espostoa melanostele may produce delicate white blooms. These flowers are uniquely adapted to their environment—closing during rain and reopening in dry conditions to maximize pollination success.

Bring Home a Touch of the Andes
With its woolly coat, golden accents, and graceful form, the Peruvian Old Lady is more than just a cactus—it’s a piece of living art. Add it to your collection and enjoy the timeless charm of this high-desert marvel.

The succulent plant housed in the red pot comes in a 130mm diameter container. While the image provides a representative depiction of what you will receive, but may vary slightly because no two succulents are the same. 

Want your succulent with a pot?

We usually ship bare root for freshness and to keep costs low, but we’re happy to pot your plant on request!

Just click here to make your request.

Please note — NT, TAS, WA customers: please contact us before placing your order due to additional quarantine charges associated with these locations.                    View Shipping options