Plants in genus mammillaria
Mammillaria marksiana
Mammillaria marksiana is a globose cactus endemic to western Mexico, known for its bright green color and snow-white wool. It features variable spines and green or lemon-yellow flowers that bloom in late winter to early spring. This cactus grows in arid deserts and can form clumps or remain solitary.
Mammillaria scrippsiana
Mammillaria scrippsiana, commonly known as the Hedgehog Cactus, is a symmetric round cactus native to Mexico. It features short, hard spines and blooms deep pink flowers in winter. This drought-tolerant plant is suitable for xeriscaping and thrives in full sun with minimal watering.
Mammillaria zeilmanniana
Mammillaria zeilmanniana, also known as the Rose Pincushion Cactus, is a rare cactus native to the narrow canyons of Guanajuato, Mexico. It features a dark green, globular shape with wooly areoles and a striking combination of red central spines and white radial spines. This cactus is known for its prolific blooming, producing rings of reddish-violet flowers that are about 0.8 inches across. It is hardy to 20°F if kept dry and prefers light shade. The plant grows up to 5 inches tall and 3 inches wide, forming clumps over time. It requires regular watering during the summer and can be propagated through seeds. Due to its limited population and threat from illegal collection, it is considered endangered.
Mammillaria magnifica
Mammillaria magnifica is a small, rapidly growing columnar cactus with hooklets, native to Mexico. It prefers a very porous cactus mix and bright light, with generous watering during the growing season. This plant is sensitive to frost and thrives in warm conditions.
Mammillaria schiedeana
Mammillaria schiedeana is a slow-growing cactus species native to Mexico, known for its ease of cultivation. It requires regular watering in summer but is prone to rot, so good drainage and porous potting media are essential. This cactus is frost resistant if kept dry and can withstand temperatures as low as -5 degrees. It produces generous displays of purple flowers and forms clusters over time. Its compact size makes it suitable for rock gardens or as a potted plant.
Mammillaria crinita ssp. wildii
Mammillaria crinita ssp. wildii is a crested cactus forming large tangled mounds, known for its free-blooming habit. It grows well in light shade to full sun and requires minimal water.
Mammillaria saffordii 'Carretii'
This globular-shaped plant has reddish hooked central spines and white-yellow with light peach tube blooms. It grows up to 24 inches tall and 11 inches wide, preferring soil with good drainage and some shade. It thrives in USDA zones 10 and 11 and requires watering when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
Mammillaria crinita ssp. leucantha
Mammillaria crinita ssp. leucantha is a delicate cactus native to Mexico, known for its fast growth and yellowish-white flowers that bloom from spring to early summer. It thrives in full sunlight and requires minimal water, especially during winter. This cactus prefers open, free-draining mineral compost and can tolerate frost down to 24.8°F. Propagation is possible through seeds and cuttings, making it a versatile addition to any cactus collection.
Mammillaria elongata 'Copper King'
Mammillaria elongata 'Copper King' is a slow-growing cactus from Mexico, forming tight clumps of erect or prostrate stems. It blooms in spring with pink-yellow flowers and requires well-draining, mineral-rich soil. This drought-tolerant plant thrives in full sun to light shade and is sensitive to overwatering.
Mammillaria magnimamma
Mammillaria magnimamma is a globular cactus native to Mexico, known for its bright pink flowers that bloom in late winter. This drought-tolerant plant grows up to 4 inches in diameter and requires porous, well-draining soil. It thrives in sunny areas with minimal watering, making it ideal for xeriscaping. Mammillaria magnimamma reproduces in numerous ways and is a popular choice for cactus enthusiasts due to its unique appearance and low maintenance needs.
Mammillaria vetula
Mammillaria vetula, also known as Arizona snowcap, is a hardy, drought-tolerant cactus with a cylindrical body. It grows up to 8 cm in height and produces bright pink flowers in early spring. This slow-growing succulent requires ample light and well-draining soil, making it ideal for sunny, dry environments. It is not frost-tolerant and should be watered sparingly, especially in winter.
Mammillaria baumii
Mammillaria baumii is a soft clumping cactus species endemic to Mexico, named after botanist Hugo Baum. It forms dense clusters of stems obscured by spines and blooms golden yellow flowers in spring. This easy-to-grow cactus is a charming addition to any collection.
Mammillaria melanocentra ssp. rubrograndis
Mammillaria melanocentra ssp. rubrograndis is a cactus species known for its solitary growth and nipple-like areolas. It blooms easily with magenta-red flowers and is hardy to 20°F. This cactus prefers full sun to light shade and requires sparing watering with good drainage. It grows up to 4 inches tall and 6 inches wide, making it a compact and attractive addition to cactus collections.
Mammillaria zeilmanniana 'Rose Pincushion Cactus'
Mammillaria zeilmanniana 'Rose Pincushion Cactus' is a drought-tolerant cactus that naturally grows in sunny areas. It requires porous, well-draining soil and minimal watering, with drought periods between waterings to prevent water-logging.
Mammillaria duwei
Mammillaria duwei, commonly known as biznaguita, is a critically endangered cactus endemic to Guanajuato, Mexico. With only about 500 mature individuals left in the wild, it is highly sought after by collectors. This drought-tolerant succulent thrives in sunny areas and requires well-draining soil and ample light.
Mammillaria carmenae
Mammillaria carmenae is a cactus native to Mexico, known for its clustered egg-shaped stems with creamy yellow down and bristles. It bears pale cream or pink-tinged flowers in spring and is frost resistant to 23°F.
Mammillaria magnimamma 'Priessnitzii'
Mammillaria magnimamma 'Priessnitzii' is a perennial stem succulent known for forming large mounds up to 20 inches in diameter. It produces flowers in shades of dirty white, creamy-yellow, or deep purplish pink during mid-spring. This cactus grows by producing offsets and requires ample light, making it suitable for bright, sunny locations. It is frost-resistant down to 24 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods and requires regular watering in summer while being kept dry in winter.
Mammillaria microhelia
Mammillaria microhelia, also known as golden stars, is a small columnar cactus endemic to Mexico's hot deserts. It features cream or brown spines and creamy-white to purplish flowers in spring. This slow-growing cactus prefers bright light and careful watering when the soil is dry, making it a resilient choice for desert gardens.
Mammillaria columbiana ssp. yucatanensis
Mammillaria columbiana ssp. yucatanensis is a drought-tolerant cactus native to Mexico and Central America. It features dark red central spines and pink flowers, making it a striking addition to xeriscapes. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and blooms from mid-spring to early summer.
Mammillaria spinosissima 'Un Pico Cristata'
Mammillaria spinosissima 'Un Pico Cristata' is an easy-to-grow cactus cultivar that forms a cluster of stems highlighted by reddish spines. It produces rings of purple-pink blooms and requires regular watering in summer, while needing to be kept dry with ample airflow in winter. This cactus is quite frost-resistant if kept dry and prefers bright sun, filtered sunlight, or afternoon shade. It tends to bronze in strong light.
Mammillaria spinosissima 'Cristata'
Mammillaria spinosissima 'Cristata', also known as the Brain Cactus, is a unique form with soft reddish spines. It grows up to 12 inches tall and 4 inches in diameter, thriving in USDA zone 10. This cactus prefers light shade and regular watering in summer, with propagation possible through seeds or offsets.
Mammillaria petterssonii
Mammillaria petterssonii is a small cactus native to Mexico, recognized for its globular, solitary stem and woolly axils. The light green stem can grow up to 4.8 inches in diameter, with large, three-angled tubercles. Its central spines are orange-brown, turning whitish with age, and it produces pinkish-red to white flowers with reddish midveins. This cactus has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Mammillaria melanocentra
Mammillaria melanocentra is a short, stocky perennial cactus native to Northern Mexico, featuring large tubercles and dark pink flowers in a complete ring. It has a glaucous-green stem and blooms in spring, producing pink or red fruits. This cactus prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Mammillaria 'Toumeya Knippeli'
Mammillaria 'Toumeya Knippeli' is a winter-dormant cactus with a mat-forming growth habit and soft, flattened green stems. It produces small pink flowers at the apex and requires regular watering in summer, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. This cactus thrives in bright light and cannot tolerate temperatures below 23°F.
Mammillaria karwinskiana ssp. nejapensis
Mammillaria karwinskiana ssp. nejapensis is a cactus from Oaxaca, Mexico, with globular stems and silvery white spines. It forms large clusters over time and blooms with funnel-shaped flowers in spring to summer.