From the Greek “oros” meaning mountain and the Latin “cereus” meaning candle (hence mountain candle), Oreocereus could be considered the South American counterpart to that of Cephalocereus in the Northern Hemisphere. They are predominantly short-columnar species which are covered in thick white wool or hair providing protection from the intense ultraviolet light of the high altitudes where they grow, in Peru, Chile Bolivia and Argentina (about 3,000 metres above sea level). This wool covering is also supposed to make the plants somewhat frost resistant, as it reduces transpiration during the dry season and collects moisture from the mists by condensation. This genus is found at higher elevations and need full sun; keep it in mind if you wish to grow it.
