A slow growing, perennial cactus forming a cluster of squat round stems, dark green to brown in colour, and 6-7cm across with 12 or more ribs. White woolly areoles produce a small number of white radial spines. Yellow flowers are produced in summer
Up to 10 cm
0.1-0.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
In milder areas, may be grown outdoors in gritty, poor soil in full sun. Protect from excess winter wet. In colder areas, grow under glass in a mix of 3 parts standard cactus compost and one part perlite. This is a desert plant, native to one of the driest regions of the world; water moderately from spring to early autumn and keep dry in winter. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for more details
Propagate by seed sown at 19-24°C (66-75°F) in early spring, or by division, removing offsets in summer
No pruning required
May be susceptible to mealybugs when grown under glass
Generally disease-free