Mammillaria velatula subsp. gracilis var. fragilis (AKA "Thimble Cactus")

When we first started growing this plant, back in the late 1960s, we just knew it as the thimble cactus, and then as Mammillaria fragilis, which then became M. gracilis var. fragilis. Then the "fragilis" was dropped and it became the name listed above, only without the fragilis part. We just leave it on for old time sake...and because it then makes this wonderfully long and impressive botanical name for what is basically a simple little plant. It's easy to grow and if you look at it sideways you'll have ten new plants as each segment breaks off readily.
But just because it's easy doesn't mean it isn't worth having. And look closely. Here it is January and it's supposed to get down to 24F tonight, but right there in the center left of the plant is a new bud beginning to push its way through the spines. (Of course, the plant's in the greenhouse, not outside freezing it's spines off. We're not that cruel!)

Mammillaria gracilis var. fragilis

There are those plants that are so easy to reproduce that become viewed as "common" and therefore are ignored. This is one of those plants. Each new "thimble" can easily break loose and root, thus forming a fast growing mound of cacti. But just because it's easy to grow doesn't mean it should be ignored. Even the experienced cactus grower can enjoy the challenge of creating a showy mound of these plants, presenting it in an appropriate pot and making an impression on even the most jaded cactophile!

Mammillaria gracilis 'Arizona Snowcap'

No, it's not flowering now. This was taken last March of little thumb sized starts of Mammillaria gracilis 'Arizona Snowcap' (Syn.: Mammillaria vetula ssp. gracilis 'Arizona Snowcap'). These will be forming nice clumps of this very unique cultivar of gracilis, which makes an outstanding, easy to grow, pot specimen.

They've had their summer growth spurt and now they'll get their winter dormancy... not that we're really getting Winter weather yet. We've had a couple of mild frosts (37 F) but no killing frost yet. And certainly no snow like in the Eastern Rocky Mountains and in the Northeast. Brrrr.