Scientific Name
Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus (Lem.) K.Schum.
Common Name(s)
Star Rock, Living Rock
Synonym(s)
Anhalonium kotschoubeyanum, Anhalonium kotschubeyanum, Roseocactus kotschoubeyanus, Stromatocactus kotschoubeyi
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Ariocarpus
Etymology
The specific epithet "kotschoubeyanus (kot-shoo-bee-AY-nus)" honors Prince Kotschoubey, a Russian prince and patron of horticulture.
Origin
Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus is native to northeastern Mexico. It occurs in and around the edges of the Chihuahuan Desert, from Coahuila through Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí, to Querétaro.
Description
Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus is a small geophytic cactus with a flat-topped, dark olive green stem covered with deltoid tubercles, each with an off-white stripe of hair down the middle. The stem slowly grows, reaching up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) in diameter, usually solitary, or rarely, if ever, produces a few offsets to form a small clump.
The flowers are nearly white or shell pink to bright magenta, appearing from a wooly crown in fall. They can grow up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. The fruits are white or green with lots of tiny black seeds.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Plant your Ariocarpus in soil specifically formulated for cacti. You can buy a cactus mix at your local nursery. Do not use generic soil mixes because they will not provide enough aeration and drainage. Additionally, using a container without a hole, whether a pot or a terrarium, is a bad idea for the same reason.
Ariocarpus plants need a lot of sunlight. However, in hot, dry areas, they can be damaged by excessive sunlight, so you should use a shade cloth to limit their sun or move them out during the hottest hours of the day. In more temperate areas, direct sunlight is fine.
These cacti prefer to be kept at room temperature or slightly lower and in low humidity.
Water your Ariocarpus when it is dry, but wait until the soil dries completely before watering it again. The amount of time this takes will vary depending on your climate and the size of your pot if you use one.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Ariocarpus.
Links
- Back to genus Ariocarpus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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