Scientific Name
Escobaria sneedii Britton & Rose
Common Name(s)
Carpet Foxtail Cactus, Sneed's Cory Cactus, Sneed's Cscobaria, Sneed's Pincushion, Sneed's Pincushion Cactus
Synonym(s)
Coryphantha pygmaea, Coryphantha sneedii, Coryphantha sneedii var. sneedii, Coryphantha vivipara var. sneedii, Escobaria orcuttii var. macraxima, Escobaria sneedii subsp. sneedii, Mammillaria leei, Mammillaria sneedii, Neolloydia orcuttii
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Escobaria
Origin
This species is endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert. It occurs in scattered locations in New Mexico, Texas in the United States, and the Chihuahuan desert scrub in Mexico.
Description
Escobaria sneedii is a small cactus that forms large clumps of green, usually stiff and erect stems obscured by white spines. The stems grow up to 10.8 inches (27 cm) long and up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter, spheric at first, later cylindric or club-shaped. The tubercles are stiff, cone-shaped, and 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) long. each areole bears 31 to 96 spines, all bright snowy white or pinkish when young. Flowers vary in color white, cream, pale tan, greenish-white, or pale rose-pink, and may have a darker midstripe of almost any color. They are funnel-shaped, up to 1.1 inches (2.8 cm) long, up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, and appear at the top of the stems in spring. Fruits are generally red or green, usually tinged with other colors, and up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) long. Fruits are red or green, juicy when fresh, and with bright reddish brown or brownish orange seeds. They are spherical, club-shaped, or cylindrical, about 0.4 inches (2 cm) long and 0.3 inches (0.8 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 8a to 11b: from 10 °F (−12.2 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Escobarias are susceptible to rot and require well-drained soil without excess water 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 other propagation methods are preferable as offsets or cuttings.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Escobaria.
Links
- Back to genus Escobaria
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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