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Pereskia
Also called Lemon Vines, Rose Cacti
Pereskia is a genus of about ten cactus species that look unlike typical cacti, with broad persistent leaves and non-succulent stems, grown as shrubs, trees or climbers. Grow them like tropical shrubs in bright conditions with moderate water.
Pereskia is a small genus of about ten species of cacti that do not look much like other types of cacti, having substantial leaves and non-succulent stems. The genus is named after Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, a 16th-century French botanist. The genus was more widely circumscribed until molecular phylogenetic studies showed that it was paraphyletic. Some species have since been transferred to Leuenbergeria, and also to Rhodocactus by some sources, although not by Plants of the World Online as of April 2026. Although Pereskia does not resemble other cacti in its overall morphology, close examination shows spines developing from areoles, and the distinctive floral cup of the cactus family.
The species of Pereskia are native to southern tropical and southern South America. Pereskia aculeata has the widest distribution, and is also found in Panama. It has been introduced into several other parts of the world, including Mexico and the United States, South Africa, China and Australia.
The genus is not of great economic importance. Pereskia aculeata has edible fruit and is widely cultivated. The fruit contains numerous small seeds. It somewhat resembles a gooseberry in appearance and is of excellent flavor. This plant is a declared weed in South Africa. It can also be used as a rootstock for grafting of Schlumbergera to create miniature trees.
Barbados shrub · Pereskia bahiensis · Pereskia diaz-romeroana · Rose cactus · Pereskia nemorosa · Seven Needles Plant · Pereskia stenantha
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Pereskia by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
