Chamaecereus silvestrii

Chamaecereus silvestrii is a species of cactus from northwestern Argentina and Bolivia. Synonyms include Echinopsis chamaecereus and Lobivia silvestrii. It has been called the peanut cactus. This plant should not be confused with Echinopsis silvestrii, a synonym of Echinopsis albispinosa, a species with a very different appearance.

Chamaecereus silvestrii has long stems about 1 cm across. Orange flowers up to 4 cm wide appear in late spring. In cultivation, ''Ch. silvestrii'' is hardy to temperatures as low as -7 C if kept dry.

''Ch. silvestrii was first collected and described in 1896 as Cereus silvestrii'' by Italian-Argentinian botanist Carlo Luigi Spegazzini in the mountains between the provinces of Tucuman and Salta, Argentina. However, subsequent expeditions to the area failed to find the species Spegazzini had collected and it is unknown whether the species has gone extinct since the initial collection.

This plant is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.