We’ve planted quite a few lobivias through the years, and killed quite a few, since our climate is a bit too cold for most species of this member of the cactus family from South America. One that has survived, and is putting on quite a show now is the Northern Argentina native, Lobivia aurea var. shaferi. Digging deeper, we discovered that it’s no longer a Lobivia, and is now a member of the genus Echinopsis, as Echinopsis aurea. These poor plants have been alternatively lumped together and split out into separate genera for decades. Regardless of the taxonomy, it’s been a great performer, with huge golden flowers that are so oversized, they actually obscure the plant itself. We have this planted where it will not see any rain in winter, which seems to be working well.
Lobivia atrovirens var. ritteri in flower