Scientific Name
Escobaria missouriensis (Sweet) D. R. Hunt
Common Names
Missouri Foxtail Cactus, Yellow Pincushion Cactus, Plains Nipple Cactus
Synonyms
Mammillaria missouriensis (basionym), Coryphantha missouriensis, Coryphantha marstonii, Coryphantha similis, Mammillaria similis, Neobesseya missouriensis, Neobesseya similis, Neomammillaria missouriensis
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Escobaria
Description
Escobaria missouriensis is an unbranched or profusely branched cactus up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall and forms clumps up to 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter. The spines are bright white, pale gray or pale tan, 6 to 21 per areole. Flowers are yellow-green with mid stripes of green or rose-pink to pale brown, up to 2 inches (5 cm) long and up 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. The fruits are bright orange-red when mature and up to 0.4 inch (10 mm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 7a to 11b: from 0 °F (−17.8 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
The Escobaria are very susceptible to rot and therefore require a 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 (30-50%). Avoid watering during the winter, when the plant is dormant: watering Escobaria in cold environmental conditions will almost certainly lead to death of the plant. In the growing season the plants, whose growth is typically quite slow, like to perceive a significant temperature difference between night and day. The experienced grower knows well the difficulties of survival of this genus, certainly not one of the easiest to grow.
The seed germination rate is lower than other genus and in fact other methods of propagation are preferable, as a offsets or cuttings… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Escobaria
Origin
Native to United States (Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota) and Mexico (Coahuila de Zaragoza, Nuevo Leon).
Links
- Back to genus Escobaria
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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