Obregonia denegrii | Artichoke cactus. Obregón's biznaguita
€47,70
Obregonia denegrii Frič ·
🌱 Morphology
Solitary, globose-flattened, and almost ground-level cactus, reaching about 12–15 cm in diameter, with a thick taproot. It has no ribs: the body is composed of large, fleshy, triangular tubercles spirally arranged, resembling the bracts of an artichoke. Each tubercle ends in a small areole, initially woolly, with 2–4 thin, flexible, and slightly curved spines, 5–15 mm long, which usually shed quickly. The apex is sunken and covered by a characteristic crown of white wool, from which the flowers emerge.
🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family
Species endemic to Tamaulipas, Mexico, especially the Jaumave Valley, where it grows on stony, limestone terrain, partially protected by xerophytic vegetation. It is the sole representative of the genus Obregonia, belonging to the Cactaceae family, tribe Cacteae. Its appearance represents one of the most unique morphologies among Mexican cacti.
❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b
Tolerates minimum temperatures down to −4 ºC when kept dry and with well-acclimatized specimens. In cultivation, greater caution is recommended: its thick taproot is especially sensitive to excess moisture when temperatures are low.
☀️ Lighting
Requires plenty of light, but appreciates some protection from the most intense summer sun. Morning direct sun and very bright light the rest of the day promote compact growth without the risk of epidermal burns. During active growth, a DLI PAR of 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ is recommended, with progressive acclimatization.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. During the cold months, it should be kept practically dry. In spring and summer, resume watering when temperatures are sufficiently high, providing water deeply and allowing the substrate to dry completely before the next watering. Rapid drainage is essential to protect the taproot.
🌸 Flowering
The flowers appear in the woolly center of the apex, on young tubercles. They are diurnal, bell-shaped to funnel-shaped, generally white with pinkish tints, about 2.5–3 cm long and up to 2.5 cm in diameter. The stamen filaments have reddish or purple tones and the anthers are yellow. Flowering occurs mainly in summer. The fruits, pear-shaped and whitish, remain hidden among the apical wool.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a fertilizer with high content of assimilable calcium and low nitrogen levels, such as Desert CHOICE® Cactaceae, is recommended, applied once a month during watering. Before flowering, it can be supplemented with Desert CHOICE® Flowering.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technical square pot and with the substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.
🏷️ Obregonia denegrii or "artichoke cactus." Cactus with CITES certificate and phytosanitary passport IT-07-829.
8x8 cm pot
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