Ariocarpus scaphirostris (Living Rock Cactus)

Scientific Name

Ariocarpus scaphirostris Boed.

Common Names

Living Rock Cactus

Synonyms

Ariocarpus scapharostrus

Scientific Classification

Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Ariocarpus

Description

Ariocarpus scaphirostris is a slow-growing, grey-green, geophytic cactus, rising barely above ground level. The stem is solitary, subglobose or globose, more or less rounded on top and up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) tall. The tubercles are erect, spineless and up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long. The flowers are magenta, up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter and appear in fall. The fruit is greenish, up to 0.6 inch (1.5 cm) long and up to 0.3 inches (0.8 cm) in diameter.

Photo via cactus-art.biz

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

You should plant your Ariocarpus in soil specifically formulated for cacti. You can buy 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 it is a pot or a terrarium, is a bad idea for the same reason.

Ariocarpus need a lot of sun. However, in hot, dry areas, they can be damaged by excessive sunlight, so you should either use a shadecloth to limit their sun or move them out of the sun 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. The amount of time this takes will vary depending on your climate and the size of your pot if you use one.

Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Ariocarpus.