Scientific Name
Ariocarpus retusus Scheidw.
Common Name(s)
False Peyote, Living Rock, Living Rock Cactus, Star Rock
Synonym(s)
Anhalonium retusum, Ariocarpus retusus subsp. retusus, Mammillaria pulvilligera
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Ariocarpus
Origin
The native range of Ariocarpus retusus is from Coahuila and Nuevo León to San Luis Potosí in Mexico. It grows on limestone or rocky slopes.
Description
Ariocarpus retusus is an unusual, slow-growing cactus with a solitary, flattened globose stem covered with long pyramidal tubercles that have wooly bases, resembling a rosette. The stem is grey-green or blue-green and can grow up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall and 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter. The tubercles measure up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long and up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) wide.
The diurnal flowers are white to pink, sometimes with reddish midribs, and appear in fall. They can reach up to 1.7 inches (4.2 cm) in length and 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. The fruits are white, green, or rarely pinkish, and are up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) in diameter.
Despite its slow growth, often taking ten years to reach flowering age, this species is a desirable cactus for cultivation because of its interesting form and attractive flowers.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Plant your Ariocarpus in soil 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 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 of it 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 then wait until the soil dries out completely to water it again.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Ariocarpus.
Varieties
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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