James H. Schutte
Family
Cactaceae
Botanical Name
Mammillaria
Plant Common Name
Globe Cactus
General Description
The genus Mammillaria is enormous, containing at least 150 species and even more varieties, subspecies and naturally occurring hybrids. They are widely distributed across the arid regions of the Americas. A handful are cold tolerant but most exist where growing conditions are continually warm.
In general, Mammillaria are true cacti with rounded, fuzzy stems that spread slowly over time to form dense, upright clumps, though a few oddballs have fat, procumbent stems. Some have protruding clusters of spines while others are so fuzzy the spines are completely hidden. In most cases, the central spine in the cluster is long and hooked.
Most species bear small, charming flowers on older tubercles at the tops if the stems. These are often borne in rings and look like wreaths of flowers crowning the stems. The blooms are typically white, pink, red or yellow. Some species produce numerous rings of flowers, creating a bold color statement, while others produce irregularly spaced solitary flowers, which are less showy. Pollinators include hummingbirds and insects of all sorts. The fruits of these small cacti are bright pink or red and oval in shape. These can remain attractive and colorful long after blooming has ceased.
Mammillaria are easy to cultivate and well-suited for beginning gardeners. Full sun and sharply drained soil with average to poor fertility will suffice. Overall, they grow best in hot, dry rocky areas. Some water is required when plants are in active growth but cool, dry growing conditions are favored in winter. Large clumps should be watered less frequently because they tend to accumulate moisture beneath and take longer to dry out at the root zone. One way of resolving this problem is to water container grown plants from trays at the base of the pots. This eliminates water in between the stems and at the base while ensuring there's plenty of water at the root zone.
As with all prickly cacti, care should be taken when handling these. Their fierce spines can become embedded in the skin. Mammillaria are ideal cacti for arid beds and rockeries, troughs and containers.
Characteristics
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Plant Type
Cactus or Succulent
