Icaros

“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.

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.

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.