Yavia cryptocarpa

Scientific Name

Yavia cryptocarpa R. Kiesling & Piltz

Synonym(s)

Blossfeldia cryptocarpa

Scientific Classification

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

Origin

Yavia cryptocarpa is native to Argentina. It occurs in a small area in Yavi, a department of the province of Jujuy, at 12,140 feet (3,700 m) above sea level.

Description

Yavia cryptocarpa is a small cactus with a subglobular stem that is wooly and depressed at the apex and has tubercles tipped with areoles that bear clusters of short pectinate spines. The stem usually grows solitary but sometimes can produce a few offsets, reaching up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in height and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. The plants in cultivation often become slightly cylindrical. Each areole bears 8 to 15 barely visible spines.

The flowers are usually pink but can range from white to pale purple. They are up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) long and 0.8 inches (2 cm) in diameter and appear at the top of the stem in late spring. The small fruits remain protected in the central depression of the stem for months. They are expelled at the end of spring of the following year when the flower buds develop.

Hardiness

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

How to Grow and Care

Yavia cryptocarpa loves to be in very bright exposure but generally not to direct sunlight. The risk, especially during the hottest hours of the day during the summer, is to get sunburned.

This cactus is very susceptible to rot and requires well-drained soil. Use a potting mix that is labeled for cacti or succulents.

Water during the growing period and let the soil dry out between waterings. Keep it dry as soon as the temperature drops, and keep it perfectly dry in winter at temperatures from 40 to 60°F (5 to 15°C).

It needs to be kept in a cool place during winter rest and can tolerate occasional frost if kept on the dry side before and during cold weather with little danger of being killed. However, it is better not to expose it to temperatures lower than 40°F (5°C) in cultivation, even if in an aerated and protected location.

See more at How to Grow and Care for Yavia.

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