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Ariocarpus retusus
Also called Seven Stars
Ariocarpus retusus is a slow-growing, flattened cactus from the Chihuahuan desert of northeast Mexico, prized for its unusual rock-like form and flowers. Its key to success is very sharp drainage, strong light and sparse watering.
Ariocarpus retusus is a species of cactus, from the genus Ariocarpus, found mainly in Mexico. It is one of the largest and fastest-growing species in this genus known for a slow rate of growth. Despite its slow growth, often taking ten years to reach flowering age, the retusus is a desirable cactus for cultivation, having attractive flowers and an unusual form for a cactus. It is also one of the most easily cultivated species in the genus.
Ariocarpus retusus is found in Mexico, from the states of Coahuila and Nuevo León south along both sides of the Sierra Madre Occidental to San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas in the high Chihuahuan desert at elevations between 1,300 and 2,000 meters. This species grows on limestone and rocky slopes and in grasslands.
Tamaulipas living rock cactus · Chautle livingrock · Livingrock
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ariocarpus retusus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
