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Mammillaria perbella

Mammillaria perbella
Chilito

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Small cactus originating from Mexico. It forms a cushion with a beautiful globular shape and a flat apex, adorned with very dense and short white needles. In late spring, it bears a vibrant crown of small pinkish-purple flowers, followed by bright red fruits, which are equally decorative. It is a solitary cactus which can sometimes branch out at its apex, forming colonies of several "heads", like other species of the same genus. This plant is very popular due to its easy cultivation and its ability to flower. Grow it in the sun in very well-drained, light, porous soil. It requires very little watering.
Flower size
2 cm
Height at maturity
10 cm
Spread at maturity
10 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -4°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
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Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time March to May
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Mammillaria perbella is a small cushion cactus native to Mexico. It has a beautiful globular shape with a flattened top, adorned with very dense and short white needles. This spination forms circles that curve inward, punctuated by two prominent spines, which are brown with a darker tip. They are long and thick. In late spring, this cactus bears a vibrant crown with an abundance of small pink-purple flowers, followed by bright red fruits, which are equally decorative. It is a solitary cactus that can sometimes branch out at its apex, forming colonies of multiple "heads" over time, like other species of the same genus. This plant is very popular due to its easy cultivation and ability to bloom. It simply requires a sunny exposure in well-draining, light, and porous soil. It will need very little watering.

 

Mammillaria perbella is a succulent perennial that belongs to the vast Cactaceae family. Mammillaria perbella is a widely spread "cushion cactus" from central Mexico to the Pacific coast, where it grows in semi-desert regions between 1500 and 2800m (4921 and 9186ft). It can be found in humiferous hollows between rocks on limestone banks. It withstands drought and heat well but does not survive temperatures below -2°C (28.4°F), especially if the soil is not perfectly well-drained and dry. Cultivate it in pots outside warm and dry climates, in full sun or partial shade in a very well-draining substrate made of a mix of soil, sand, and gravel. Avoid overly humid environments or excessive watering!

Mammillaria perbella is a very popular cactus thanks to its easy cultivation. It is a perennial with a globular habit that becomes columnar with age. Slow-growing, it can reach 16cm (6in) in height and 8cm (3in) in width in its native environment. When cultivated, it forms a dwarf cushion only 10cm (4in) in height with a similar width. Like all mammillarias, its surface consists of tubercles arranged in symmetrical spirals. In this species, they are conical, 6 to 7mm long and 1mm wide, with a matte green epidermis and two areoles, one at its tip and the other in its axil. The areoles are covered with white down in their youth, which means that the hollow at the top of this cactus is always hidden behind this weaving. The upper areoles bear a first row of 14 to 25 white spines, 2 to 4mm long, grouped in a spiral, and a second row consisting of two central spines, 4 to 6mm long, which are tougher, brownish, and end in a darker point. This plant blooms in May-June, producing an impressive and brightly coloured crown around the top of its swollen body, with small flowers measuring 1cm (0.4in), which are pink-purple with a darker median. They are followed by small bright red club-shaped fruits, 1.5cm (1in) long, which prolong the plant's ornamental interest.

 

In warm and dry regions, Mammillaria perbella will find its place in a dry and sunny rockery or on a wild bank. Elsewhere, it can be planted in a pot that should be stored away when the first cold arrives. Watering should be stopped until growth resumes in spring. It can be paired with other cacti such as echinocactus, ferocactus, astrophytum, or other species of mammillarias to create miniature desert gardens, or it can be placed alone in a pot to decorate a windowsill.

 

Mammillaria perbella in pictures

Mammillaria perbella (Foliage) Foliage

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time May to June
Flower size 2 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 10 cm
Spread at maturity 10 cm
Growth rate slow

Botanical data

Genus

Mammillaria

Species

perbella

Family

Cactaceae

Other common names

Chilito

Origin

North America

Product reference1515111

Planting and care

Plant the young plant Mammillaria perbella in full sun in light, well-draining, mineral-rich, sandy to rocky soil. It cannot tolerate temperatures below -2°C (28.4°F). Highly resistant to heat and drought, it can be grown outdoors in hot regions, which are dry in summer. Elsewhere, cultivate it in a pot with a cactus substrate, which should be kept dry throughout winter in a bright room between 5 and 10°C (41 and 50°F). Outdoors, protect it from excessive rain, which can cause it to rot. Excessive humidity in winter can also greatly reduce the hardiness of this plant. Water sparingly from March to October.

16
€14.50 Each
6
€19.50

Planting period

Best planting time March to April
Recommended planting time March to May

Intended location

Suitable for Rockery
Type of use Container, Greenhouse, Conservatory
Hardiness Hardy down to -4°C (USDA zone 9b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral
Soil type Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, well-draining.

Care

Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Needs to be stored

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