Differences Between the San Pedro Cactus & the Peruvian Apple Cactus

Location

• Even though both species of cacti are found in South American, they are not always found in the same regions. You can find the Peruvian apple cactus throughout the continent of South America and in the ABC Islands, which are located in the Dutch Caribbean. The San Pedro cactus, on the other hand, can be found in the Andes Mountains located in Peru as well as various areas in South American, including Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina.

Appearance

• The Peruvian apple cactus grows from 8 to 15 feet but some variants can grow up to 50 feet in height. It features white to mauve, fragrant flowers that measure about 6 inches across and produces a yellow or light red fruit that resembles a small apple. The Peruvian apple cactus also has a tree-like appearance.

  The San Pedro cactus reaches heights of 12 to 30 feet and has white or off-white fragrant flowers. The San Pedro cactus is listed on the University of Connecticut’s list of poisonous plants. However, it has long been a common treatment in Andean traditional medicine.

Care

• The Peruvian apple cactus grows best in full sun with no shade and prefers well-drained mineral soil. The San Pedro cactus is a little more lenient growing in either full sun or partial shade. This cactus can be grown indoors and in containers. Over watering both species of cacti will prove fatal to the plant. Furthermore, both the Peruvian apple cactus and the San Pedro cactus are cold tolerant and can survive temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Considerations

• Both the Peruvian apple cactus and the San Pedro cactus work well as ornamental plants in your garden or lawn. In addition, they both feature spines or needles that can poke the skin and cause pain and irritation. Before handling either plant, wear heavy-duty work gloves.