Astrophytum asterias

 

Name:

Frost Protection:

Sun Exposure:

Origin:

Growth Habits:

 

Watering Needs:

Propagation:

Cultural Practices:
Prefer alkanine, porous soil. Water slightly more in summer during its growing season

Sea Urchin, Sand Dollar

Hardy to to 20° F (-6°C)

Light shade to shade

Mexico

Solitary globular cactus, up to 7 inches

in diameter (18 cm)

Little water, subject to root rot.

Seed, graft.

Blooming Habits:
The Sea urchin blooms in summer. The 2 inch wide flowers (5 cm) are yellow with a red center.

 

The Astrophytum asterias is a popular spineless cactus. The white flecking is very variable from clone to clone.( Sea urchin ) The sand dollar Cactus has no spines, and is divided into eight segments, forming a low dome. They have yellow flowers with red throats, and are summer blooming. Even small seedlings have the ability to flower and set seed. Mature plants grow to 10 cm across, and are covered in deeply sunken stomates.

Need strong sun and temperatures above 45 degrees. As of 1993, this species has been declared endangered in the U.S.A.. Rare in cultivation and slow growing.

Reported to contain unspecified alkaloids.

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