Pronounciation: Es-co-BAR-ee-a vi-va-PAR-a

Hardiness zones
Sunset 8-13 (arid regions only)
USDA 4-9 (arid regions only)

Landscape Use: Diminuative textural accent, desert and cactus display gardens, container plant.

Form & Character: Small, rounded, clumping and spreading with age, stiff and pointed, yet non-threatening and unassuming except when in flower when it will grab your attention.

Growth Habit: Perennial cactus, small, stems rounded to 2 inches, basally branching with age to form clumps to 6 inches tall and with greater spread.

Foliage/Texture: Dense array of spines at each aeroles, spines either hooked, curved, or straight, radial spines tend to be light colored (almost white) with dark tips; mediumc coarse texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Terminal flowers are colored either pink, rose, or purple; fruits nondescript, indehiscent.

Seasonal Color: None, except when briefly flowering during spring.

Temperature: Needs protection from western heat during summer in Phoenix, otherwise in other southwestern locations is fully tolerant.

Light: Full sun, but western afternoon shade is best in Phoenix.

Soil: A sandy, well-drained soil is best.

Watering: Apply only occasional supplemental water once established.

Pruning: None

Propagation: Seed, division of basal stem branches.

Disease and Pests: Root rot in poorly drained soils

Additional comments: Overall, pincushion cactus is a diminuative and very small clumping cactus that is best used in close proximity to human traffic as it can otherwise become quickly lost as a visual landscape element. At its best, this is a great curiousity plant for terra cotta pot container culture.

Taxonomic tidbits: Because of its wide geographic distribution, there are many different phenotypes of pincushion cactus across its range. Six varietal selections have been made because of this; four of these varietal selections are from the desert Southwest including Arizona.