Coryphantha - Beehive Cacti, Pincushion Plant

(Coryphan'tha)

DESCRIPTION: This group of cactus consists of about sixty species from the southern U.S. and northern Mexico. Commonly known as Beehive Cacti and Pincushion Plant, these small plants have separate tubercles, instead of ribs, which are each equipped with formidable spines. Most of these plants are globular in shape, though a few are columnar. After a few years, flowers are borne at the tips of the tubercles in the spring and summer. The daisy-like blossoms may be yellow, red, or pink. C. durangensis is an interesting plant whose club-shaped stems grow up to 4 inches high and 11/2 inches across. In the beginning, this variety grows singly, eventually producing a few offsets with age. The crown is covered with thick down and from it yellow flowers grow in early summer. C. elephantidens forms clumps (up to 16 inches wide) of round heads that can grow up to 6 inches in diameter. In late summer, fragrant, 23/4-inch, pink flowers are produced. C. pseudoechinus is a pretty cactus that is completely covered in light colored or reddish-brown to black spines. At first, the grayish-green body is spherical, gradually becoming columnar. This plant grows up to 7 inches high with a spread of 12 inches. After five years, violet-pink flowers are borne.

POTTING: Beehive Cactus need a minimum temperature of 41º F. They prefer a sunny location in well-drained soil. They can not take too much winter humidity.

PROPAGATION: These cacti can be increased by sowing seeds or detaching offsets and cuttings.

VARIETIES: C. durangensis; C. clava; C. elephantidens; C. macromeris & var. runyonii; C. ramillosa; C. sulcata; C. guerkeana; C. pseudoechinus; C. bumamma; C. erecta; C. radians; C. cornifera.

Go see DICTIONARY OF BOTANICAL NAMES.

Back to our botanical home page.