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Icaros
Description
“Icaros” (more recently spelled “Ikaros” or “IkarosDNA”) is not a single clone, but rather a highly regarded seedline of Peruvian *Trichocereus* (often classified under *Trichocereus peruvianus* or related intermediate forms). Because it is distributed as open-pollinated seed collected from wild stands, individual specimens exhibit significant phenotypic variation.
Generally, plants grown from this seedline present a classic Peruvian blue-green to glaucous green epidermis. They are noted for growing into fat, girthy, and beautiful blue specimens. Rib count typically ranges from 6 to 9, with prominent, well-defined ribs. Areoles are rounded and can vary from light grey to brown felted. Spination is highly variable depending on the specific pollination event, ranging from short, honey-colored spines to long, stout, dark brown or grey spines. Variegated mutations have also been documented and selected from these seed batches.
History & Origin
The seeds are sourced and distributed by a provider named Julio (via the website ikarosdna.com), who harvests them from wild mother stands located in a specific valley in the Matucana region near Huarochiri in Peru. The spelling of the name was officially transitioned from “IcarosDNA” to “IkarosDNA” by the distributor around 2023 (approx). This spelling change is suspected to align with the Quechua language, which uses “K” instead of a solitary “C” (where an “ikaro” refers to a traditional healing song).
Due to the open-pollinated nature of the wild mother stands, the genetic makeup of the seeds varies from season to season depending on which paternal plants contribute pollen. Several well-known names in the *Trichocereus* community are selections or distributions of this same genetic group, including “Los Gentiles,” “Verne's Wild Andes,” and the accession number “BK08612.4.”
Highly sought-after named clones have been selected from these seed batches, such as “Althea” and “SWIM.” While some community members have speculated that the famous clone “Sharxx” (or “Sharxx Blue”) is also an Icaros selection, historical records indicate that Sharxx originated from the Dawson farm in Central Victoria, Australia, prior to Julio distributing seeds under the Icaros name. However, it is considered highly likely that Sharxx shares regional genetics, originating from the same geographic area in Peru.
Cultivation Notes
As with most high-altitude Andean *Trichocereus* species, specimens from the Icaros seedline prefer a gritty, well-draining soil mix to prevent root rot. They benefit from deep watering during the active growing season, allowed to dry out completely between waterings. They thrive in full sun to light dappled shade, which helps bring out their characteristic glaucous blue coloration. Variegated specimens are more sensitive to intense sunlight and should be acclimated carefully to prevent sunburn on the chlorophyll-deficient tissues.
Community Discussion & Citations
Analysis of the discussion. The community discussion centers on clarifying that Icaros/IkarosDNA is a variable seedline rather than a single clone, explaining the connection to other named plants like “Verne's Wild Andes,” “Los Gentiles,” and selections like “Althea.” It also addresses the geographic origin (Matucana, Peru), the linguistic origin of the spelling change (Quechua “ikaro”), and corrects misconceptions regarding the origin of the clone “Sharxx.”
| Date | Speaker | Key Insight/Quote |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 (approx) | James Buchanan | “It used to be IcarosDNA but was changed to IkarosDNA like 2 years ago I believe? They are all from the same valley and same mother plants. Each season the open pollinated genetics change depending on what father pollen gets spread around. But the mother stands are all the same.” |
| 2025 (approx) | James Buchanan | “Those are old IkarosDNA that Verne grew out and distribute some of the seeds under the same name. There's a good bit of variegated IkarosDNA out there now.” |
| 2025 (approx) | Michael Dee | “BK08612.4 is the other one from that seed batch… When documenting specimens in habitat, a similar numbering system is used to attribute a more specific location of discovery to that particular specimen” |
| 2025 (approx) | Chris Hughes | “I suspect it is because Quechua doesn't have solitary C but instead K. An ikaro is a healing song” |
| Unknown Date | Lawrence Smith | “maybe not 1000% confirmed but much of Verne’s early marketing of Wild Andes talked about importing seeds from Peru and used pictures from Julio/IkarosDNA” |
| 2022 (approx) | Lawrence Smith | “Wild Andes is Icaros too” |
| 2022 (approx) | Bob Baker | “when growing from seed, each and every seedling from the same fruit can have varying kinds and amounts of alkaloids, even from fruits with a single pollinator.” |
| 2022 (approx) | Nicholas Megargel | “In General though Icaro's tend to be beautiful Blue Fat Peruvianus as others have said. The genetic variability from the Seeds will cause a variety of looks even from the same seed batch as Bob mentioned. Now imagine when they're not even from the same stand, hence the wide variety of Icaro DNA plants. Some worth $1000 a foot like Althea, others not worth any more than your average Peru. All depends on that Pheno” |
| 2022 (approx) | Nicholas Megargel | “It's not a clone. It just means it was collected by a well known seed pecurer who goes after fat Peruvianus in the Matucana area it seems. You'll find Icaro's with super long spines, short spines, and everything in between along with tons of different looks because each seed batch doesn't come from the same stand. Essentially an Icaro DNA is just a Peruvianus that was seed collected by a specific person in a specific region.” |
| 2022 (approx) | Christopher Mills | “It's a seed collection from the Matucana region near Huarochiri in Peru. Most seedlings grow to be very beautiful girthy blue peruvianus specimens that most collectors consider to be some of the most beautiful” |
| 2022 (approx) | Nat McDonald | “Seed collection by Julio in Matucana, and sent by the thousands everywhere. Fat blue peruvianus” |
| 2025 (approx) | Andrew Vaught | “No, Sharxx is not IcarosDNA seed. Sharxx came from the Dawson farm in Central Victoria, Australia, which originated from long before Julio started selling seeds under the icaros name. However, its very likely that Sharxx is a seed grown plant and that those seeds likely came from the same region that Julio collects seeds from.” |
Credibility Notes
* Lawrence Smith: Designated community expert; provided confirmation regarding the connection between Verne's Wild Andes and Icaros/IkarosDNA. * Bob Baker: Designated community expert; provided botanical context on genetic and alkaloidal variation in seed-grown specimens. * James Buchanan: Provided highly detailed, consistent information regarding the distributor (Julio), the geographical origin of the mother stands, the open-pollinated nature of the seeds, the spelling change, and the historical connection to “Verne's Wild Andes” and “Los Gentiles.” * Michael Dee: Offered specific insights into the accession numbering system (BK08612.4) and how it relates to habitat documentation. * Nicholas Megargel: Provided detailed explanations of the seedline's phenotypic variation, its origin in the Matucana region, and its relation to named selections like Althea. * Christopher Mills: Provided specific geographical details locating the seed collection in the Matucana region near Huarochiri, Peru. * Andrew Vaught: Provided clear, historically accurate clarification regarding the Australian origin of the “Sharxx” clone, correcting a common community misconception. * Chris Hughes: Provided plausible linguistic context regarding the Quechua language and the cultural meaning of the word “ikaro” (healing song) to explain the spelling change. * Nat McDonald: Confirmed the collection details (Julio, Matucana) and general phenotype.
✍️ Contributors: vaugith, notcrustytheclown