Origin and Habitat: Tarija, Bolivia.

• Echinopsis kermesina (Krainz) Krainz

• Echinopsis mamillosa Gürke
• Echinopsis kermesina (Krainz) Krainz
• Echinopsis kermesina var. cylindrica Y.Itô
• Echinopsis mamillosa var. flexilis Rausch
• Echinopsis mamillosa var. kermesina (Krainz) Friedrich
• Pseudolobivia kermesina Krainz
• Echinopsis mamillosa subs. silvatica (F.Ritter) P.J.Braun & Esteves
• Echinopsis silvatica F.Ritter
• Echinopsis ritteri Boed.

Description: Solitary spherical to columnar cactus, 10-25cm in diameter and 7-30 cm tall or more, depending on the variety. There are a number of varieties that differ with flower color, dimension and spination.
Stem: Large and globular, with many ribs divided into low rounded tubercles.
Flowers: Up to 20 cm long, 10 cm wide. Typically the species has white nocturnal flowers to attract moth pollinators. Large, but the flowers may be white with rose colored tips, purple or deep red. The flowers of this species are characterized by relatively short floral tube scales and unusual seeds.
Blooming season: This species will produce flowers in the summer when only 8 cm in diameter. The blossoms open at night and last about 24 hours.
Remarks: This species (and particularly the carmine flowered variety kermesina) is often used in hybridization, and is an important component of some modern Echinopsis hybrids, lending its large showy flower structure to these hybrids.

Cultivation and Propagation: The Easter Lily Cactus is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties. Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ). It needs good drainage and very porous soil. Keep rather dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. It is quite frost resistant if kept dry (hardy to -10° C). It needs a bright exposure, full sun or half shade in summer.

Propagation: Direct sow after last frost, or offsets if any.