Escobaria abdita

Scientific Name

Escobaria abdita Řepka & Vaško

Synonym(s)

Escobaria abdita subsp. abdita, Neobesseya abdita

Scientific Classification

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

Description

Escobaria abdita is an attractive small geophytic cactus with a swollen root and stems with short ivory to chalk white spines. The stems are spherical and up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) in diameter.

The flowers are white with light pink stripes on the tepals and yellow anthers and appear in late spring. They are funnelform, up to 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) long and 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) in diameter. Fruits are up to 0.3 inches (0.8 cm) long and nearly equal in diameter.

Origin

This species is native to Mexico. It occurs south of El Oro, a small town in Coahuila, in temporarily flooded depressions, immersed in the loamy soil practically throughout the year.

Escobaria abdita — *Photo via kkplzen.eu*

Hardiness

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

How to Grow and Care

Escobarias are very susceptible to rot and require well-drained soil without any water excess or stagnation. It has been observed that the plants also suffer the environmental humidity, which should preferably remain very low (30 to 50 %). Avoid watering during the winter, when the plant is dormant. Watering Escobaria in cold environmental conditions will almost certainly lead to the death of the plant. The plants, whose growth is typically quite slow, perceive a significant temperature difference between night and day in the growing season.

The experienced grower knows well the difficulties of survival of the members of this genus, which is certainly not one of the easiest to grow. The seed germination rate is lower than other genera, and in fact, other propagation methods are preferable, such as offsets or cuttings.

Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Escobaria.

Photo Gallery

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