No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Cereus forbesii is native to the arid areas of Central America.

Cereus forbesii is a perennial plant, and it has the aspect of a columnar cactus, with many erect stems. The stems are gryish-green, with many ribs. Each rib has many, lined aureoles, with a group of white spines each. In some cultivars the ribs are arranged in a spiral. Flowers are white and they have long, yellow staminas. In its natural habitat it can reach 12 meters of height. Its red fruits are edible.

Cereus forbesiiis not particularly difficult to grow. Exposure to sunlight should be partial when the plant is young and full when it reach adulthood. It’s better
to cultivate it in pots, so that in winter it can simply be moved indoors to prevent frost damages, even if it actually can resist to moderate frosts.  The substrate should be well-drained, a cactus soil is the most recommended. During the summer, water it once every 3-4 days, paying attention to water stagnation. In Autumn, reduce the watering frequency until completely suspending it in winter.

Propagation of Cereus forbesii can be done through cuttings or seed. Cuttings can be taken off in spring and put to root after letting them dry a little bit at the end. Seeds have to be sown in a cactus mix substrate which has to be maintained wet.

The name “Cereus” derives from Latin and literally means “candle” in reference to its stem, which in nature tends to grow up to ten meters in height, developing in all its splendor with the typical columnar and erect posture that characterizes the entire genus.