Hellraiser

“Hellraiser” is a heavily spined clone, widely considered to be a phenotype of Trichocereus bridgesii, though its exact classification has been a subject of debate. When grown in harsh, direct sunlight (“hard grown”), the plant produces exceptionally thick, aggressive, and “nasty” spines. Under these conditions, its morphology closely resembles Trichocereus cuzcoensis. However, when grown under shade, the growth softens, revealing characteristics more typical of a standard T. bridgesii.

There are two documented clones circulating under the name “Hellraiser”:

1. The US “Hellraiser” Clone: This clone was discovered in West Los Angeles, California, by Jackson Marchant. Marchant acquired the mother plants from a local grower who was relocating. Due to the plant's intense, heavy spination, Marchant named the clone “Hellraiser” and distributed cuttings throughout the community. Early on, community veterans (“OGs”) struggled to identify the plant, frequently misidentifying it as a Cuzco clone until Shannon Edwards cultivated it in shade, exposing its true bridgesii-like form. 2. The Australian “Hellraiser” Clone: A separate clone exists in Australia under the same name. James Buchanan independently coined the name “Hellraiser” for a plant in his collection, unaware that Marchant had already established the name for the US clone.

Some community members speculate that the clone may simply be a renamed “NOID” (No ID) bridgesii circulated to increase its market value, though the primary distributor maintains it was named strictly for its unique and extreme spine characteristics.

* Light Exposure: Cultivation environment drastically alters this clone's appearance. Hard growing (high light, minimal nutrients/water) produces highly pronounced, thick, and aggressive spines resembling a Cuzcoensis. Shade growing softens the spination and allows the plant to exhibit more typical, clean T. bridgesii traits. * Identification: If attempting to verify the clone's identity, growers are advised to observe shade-grown offsets, as hard-grown specimens can easily be mistaken for other heavily-spined Trichocereus species.

The discussion highlights the common issue of duplicate naming within the Trichocereus community. While some skepticism exists regarding the clone's novelty—with suggestions that it is merely a renamed NOID—the primary source provides a clear provenance tracing back to a West LA collection.

* Jackson Marchant: Marchant is the primary source who discovered, named, and distributed the US “Hellraiser” clone. His detailed account of its provenance, naming origin, and morphological changes under different growing conditions provides the foundational history for this clone. * James Buchanan: Buchanan provides valuable context regarding the naming conflict and the existence of a secondary Australian clone, openly admitting to the accidental duplicate naming.