A picture of the plant would be most helpful.

There are many columnar cactus in cultivation, including many that are
nearly without spines.

If the plant has nearly spineless blue-green stems with 6 to 8 rounded ribs
and large nocturnal white flowers with silky dark hairs on the outside, it
could be Echinopsis (Trichocereus) pachanoi or a related species.

If the stems have much narrower, almost wing-like, ribs and flowers without
hairs, it is probably a Cereus.

There are also several other, less likely, possibilities.


wrote in message
oups.com...
I just moved into a new place and there is a huge cactus in the front
yard. My friends think that it is a San Pedro (Trichocereus pachanoi),
but I am not sure. The plant is huge, it has one main trunk several
branches which are not growing perfectly upright, more like 20 degrees
off center. The main problem is that the branches seem to have grown in
sections and when I see San Pedros they always seem to be one
continuous smooth shape whereas this one is pinched in places. I know
that San Pedro is quite a popular garden plant so it makes sense, but
are there any other look alikes that might be duping my friends?

Are there any good places on the net to help me in trying to identify
this plant?

Thanks.