Harrisia aboriginum - the Aboriginal Prickly Apple Cactus

The aboriginal prickly apple cactus - Harrisia aboriginum - from my first planting in Jan. 2019 have become a forest of tall, branching and flowering stems. Some are over seven feet tall and one is over nine feet with branches. Recent first flowers proved true to species description and have set fruit, with more buds on the way. A protected species, I can sell these only in Florida, to where they are endemic. Harrisia aboriginum is a shrubby understory cactus found only in coastal hammocks of Southwest Florida and often on shell mounds there. This species grows columnar sometimes but tends to decumbency - leaning into the structure of trees and cabbage palm under which it grows for support. It also can form arches and bowers that sprawl along the ground. The aboriginal prickly apple produces bright yellow fruit said to be tasty. I'm saving seed from plants that flowered on nights when my Harrisia fragrans weren't also in bloom. Off to the side are pots of Royen's tree cactus in temporary rows. I specialize in growing Florida-able columnar cacti mostly from Florida, the Caribbean and Brazil. Lots of cool stuff going on at Cactus Island Nursery - see more at www.cactusislandacres.com and click "Cactus Nursery" in the sidebar.

[@suzannelindsey5932]

Such happy cacti!

[@jfreeman343]

The soil mix and ideal light level are making it happen.

[@samcrawford9996]

Cuttings too or all from seed? What is your soil mix consisting of? I see coquina (I think) but what else? Super great job!!!!
Keep the reintroduction/augmentations going! ❤️

[@jfreeman343]

Thanks, Sam! I grew these from seed, and I'm using 1 bag Miracle Gro Cactus/Palm/Citrus (moisture control) in $9.50 size, 1.5 bags Perlite and half bag of Cowabunga compost with manure, all of which you can find at Lowes in FL. I could see coquina added to these for stability and have been considering it for the next up-potting.

[@aslamfruits4446]

Fruit taste how?? 🤔

[@jfreeman343]

Sweet, from the tiny bit of pulp I tried while drying seeds.

[@aslamfruits4446]

@@jfreeman343 brix how much sir

[@jfreeman343]

@@aslamfruits4446 Sorry, I've never tested cactus fruit to determine brix. Tried that once while making wine.

[@peacenik4168]

Hello and omg sorry I hit 'dislike' by mistake!! These Prickly Apple Cactus are like an army of well-dressed soldiers lol
Awesome job and continued success!

[@jfreeman343]

Thanks! It will be interesting to see how they grow over the next year.