🌱 Morphology
Relatively fast-growing Mammillaria, initially solitary but extraordinarily prolific in producing offsets, eventually forming large, compact mounds. The stems are greyish-green, globose, cylindrical or club-shaped, reaching 12–20 cm in height and 5–8 cm in diameter. The tubercles are large, angular and keeled, arranged in 8 and 13 spirals, with milky latex; the axils feature wool and light-colored bristles. The areoles generally develop 4–6 unequal spines, white or reddish at first and greyish with age, some remarkably long, up to 7 cm. Central spines are usually absent in the typical form, although they appear in some populations and in subsp. centralifera.

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Species endemic to Mexico, with a wide distribution from Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí to Guanajuato, Querétaro and Hidalgo. It grows at approximately 1,000 to 2,240 m, in xerophytic scrub, thorny forests and, locally, tropical deciduous forests and oak woods. In some locations, it forms abundant populations on stony and limestone terrain.
Family Cactaceae · Subfamily Cactoideae · Tribe Cacteae 

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9a
Tolerates minimum temperatures of down to −5 ºC for short periods and with the substrate completely dry. There are reports of higher resistance, but for cultivation in Spain, it is safer to use this restrictive value.

☀️ Lighting
Requires plenty of light to maintain compact growth and encourage flowering. Direct sun is recommended, with progressive adaptation, although in summer it may benefit from some protection during the hours of peak radiation. As a reference, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is adequate during active growth.

💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter rest. During active growth, it is recommended to water deeply and allow the substrate to dry out completely before the next watering. In autumn, watering is progressively reduced until it is kept dry during the winter. Rapid drainage is essential, as the stems are sensitive to excess moisture.

🌸 Flowering
Produces a crown of small bell-shaped flowers, approximately 1–1.5 cm, which can be pale pink, purplish-pink, deep red or magenta depending on the population. Flowering occurs mainly between December and March, although it can extend into early spring in cultivation. It is a species known for flowering easily once established. 

🌿 Nutrition
During active growth, Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae NPK (Ca-Mg) 4-4-7 (4-4) is recommended once a month along with watering. Assimilable calcium promotes the formation of firm tissues and the maintenance of turgidity, while magnesium participates in chlorophyll synthesis. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.

📏 The sizes of our basic collection xerophytes are as follows:

S -> 9cm x 9cm

M-> 14cm x 14 cm

L->16cm x 16 cm

* As this is an online purchase, the appearance of the specimen sent may vary slightly from the product image. The measurements of the plant are specified in the photo description, but this may also vary slightly because it is a living thing! Each of the plants at Desert CITY has unique characteristics.