Rebutia arenacea

RHS Plant Profile

arenaceous crown cactus

RHS

Other common names

crown cactus

Synonyms

Sulcorebutia arenacea

Cactus Succulent Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

A cactus which forms globose, slightly flattened, green to brownish-green stems, 2-4cm high and 2-6cm wide. Very neat, symmetrical habit with small, light coloured spines radiating from the areoles. Stems solitary when young only clumping when mature. Flowers produced in quantity around the base of the stem, are deep yellow to orange and borne in spring

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cactaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Rebutia can be solitary or clustering cacti, with globose or shortly cylindrical, ribbed or tuberculate stems, and showy funnel-shaped flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Bolivia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in standard cactus compost in full light with low humidity. From March to October, water only when compost approaches dryness and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser 3 or 4 times during the growing season. Keep frost free and completely dry late autumn and winter as the plant is extremely sensitive to excess water at the roots

Propagation

Propagate by seed at 21°C (70°F) in early spring, or remove offsets in spring or summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs early in the season

Diseases

Relatively disease resistant