One of the classic Baja California endemic, this winter-growing cactus forms a medusoid-like clump of wildly divergent branches, making it instantly recognizable in the wild. It is slow growing in cultivation, producing multiple stems from a central rootstock. The flowers are large and white with purple highlights, and the fruits are bright red. In Mexico, the plant is called pitaya agria for the slightly sour fruits. We grow this species in the ground in Tucson, where we have not noticed frost damage but have some problems during our summer rainy season. These plants are seedlings in 2-inch pots.