Mammillaria backebergiana f. albiflora

Scientific Name

Mammillaria backebergiana f. albiflora

Accepted Scientific Name

Mammillaria backebergiana F.G. Buchenau

Scientific Classification

Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Subtribe: Cactinae
Genus: Mammillaria

Description

Mammillaria backebergiana f. albiflora is an attractive small cactus with green stems with conical tubercles, each tipped with a cluster of yellowy or brownish-yellow spines. The stems can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 2.4 inches (6 cm) in diameter, at first spherical, becoming cylindrical with age.

Flowers are white, funnel-shaped, and can reach up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) in length and 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) in diameter. They appear in a ring near the top of the stem during the spring.

Origin

Mammillaria backebergiana f. albiflora is a white-flowering form of Mammillaria backebergiana.

Hardiness

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

How to Grow and Care

To encourage better flowering, allow the plants to enjoy a cooling period in the winter and suspend watering. Unlike many other cacti, which use their ribs as storage devices, the Mammillaria feature raised tubercles, from which spines emerge. When you water, the tubercles will expand for increased water storage. The flowers emerge from the axils of these tubercles on the previous year's growth, which accounts for their interesting halo effect. The cactus mustn't be exposed to prolonged dampness and sitting water. Never let your cactus sit in a dish of water. Lastly, ensure fertilizer during the growing season for the best results.

Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot a cactus, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the pot. Next, remove the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots.

See more at How to Grow and Care for Mammillaria.

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