Copiapoa humilis

Scientific Name

Copiapoa humilis (Phil.) Hutchison

Synonym(s)

Echinocactus humilis, Copiapoa chanaralensis, Copiapoa chaniaralensis, Copiapoa longispina

Scientific Classification

Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Notocacteae
Genus: Copiapoa

Description

Copiapoa humilis is a small cactus, sometimes with a solitary stem but usually clumping at the base. The stems are pale olive-green to tan, somewhat soft, and produce copious wool in the apex. They are subglobular, depressed, up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) tall, and up to 3.6 inches (9 cm) in diameter. Young stems are purple-red to almost black. The spines are grayish-white to yellowish to black. Flowers are sulfur yellow and up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long.

Hardiness

USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).

How to Grow and Care

Despite the extreme and specific conditions in their habitat, Copiapoas as a whole are surprisingly easy to cultivate. From seed sowing to the care of mature plants, this genus is very forgiving. While staying manageable in size, Copiapoa in cultivation will flower from a young age and reliably so each following year.

These cacti want exposure to half or full sun. If they are in full sun, they must be in a position with good air circulation or risk sunburn.

Watering should be extremely poor. The soil must dry out completely between waterings. They should, however, be suspended during mid-summer. In this period, instead of watering, it will be appropriate to spray the plant early in the morning, before the temperature warms up, thus simulating the conditions they would have in their natural environment.

The soil should be formed from a mineral substrate (granite crumbled) mixed with very little universal soil.

Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Copiapoa.

Origin

This species is native to Chile.