Origin and habitat: Highlands of central Mexico .
This is an attractive globose pincushion cactus simple or rarely proliferous, sometimes 10 cm in diameter and typically wrapped on the upper part with a dense snow-white wool, so that only the tips of the tubercles visible. Each head is surrounded by a complete ring of star-like pink flowers. Even without flowers it is an extremely attractive plant, and one of the most beautiful mammillarias. Young plants start producing their wool only when they reach the flowering stage. There are several similar looking Mammillarias but far from being so woolly like the real "chionocephala".
Blooming season: Spring.
It is easy to cultivate and make interesting specimens for any collection, and over time (in 12-15 years) it may form colonies up to 50 cm or more in diameter, and doesn't require any special treatment.
Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz
Bloom Season
Flower Color
Growth Rate
Hardiness Zone
Mature Size
Resistance
Sun Exposure
| Bloom Season | Spring and early summer |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Mammillaria riteriana |
| Common Name | Powder puff cactus |
| Dormancy | Winter |
| Family | Cactaceae |
| Flower Color | White, Pink |
| Growth Habit | Ovary spherical |
| Growth Rate | Slow growth |
| Hardiness Zone | 9a to 11b |
| Mature Size | 3 ft. tall |
| Native Area | Central mexico |
| Resistance | 70 and 80 °f |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun to partial shade |
Growers Quick Reference Guide - Key Features
- Description
- Key Plant Features
Origin and habitat: Highlands of central Mexico .
This is an attractive globose pincushion cactus simple or rarely proliferous, sometimes 10 cm in diameter and typically wrapped on the upper part with a dense snow-white wool, so that only the tips of the tubercles visible. Each head is surrounded by a complete ring of star-like pink flowers. Even without flowers it is an extremely attractive plant, and one of the most beautiful mammillarias. Young plants start producing their wool only when they reach the flowering stage. There are several similar looking Mammillarias but far from being so woolly like the real "chionocephala".
Blooming season: Spring.
It is easy to cultivate and make interesting specimens for any collection, and over time (in 12-15 years) it may form colonies up to 50 cm or more in diameter, and doesn't require any special treatment.
Some of the information in this description has been found at desert-tropicals.com, llifle.com and cactus-art.biz
