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Cochemiea poselgeri

Cultivation Key

� Full sun ��Normal water�� Hanging pot for trailing

�� to partial shade.�� in growing season.�� stems.

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Hardy to 40F / 4C if dry.

Can tolerate short periods of colder temps.

Avoid frost!

(General guidelines)

Plant of the Month

March 2010

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Biznaguita (The Spanish common name)

Cochemiea poselgeri (Hildmann) Britton & Rose 1923

Cactaceae (Cactus Family)

Synonyms: Mammillaria poselgeri �Hildmann 1885

Form: The habitat of Cochemiea poselgeri is North America, on the peninsula of Baja California Sur, Mexico. �Usually found growing among rocks and hanging off the side of low cliffs and ridges. The stems start out upright, but as they grow they tend to lay down and grow prostrate. New stems emerge from the base and eventually form large clusters of sprawling stems. Armed with stout hooked spines that start out a nice shade of red, then fading to a grey white with black tips. The stems are quite tuberculate and have wool in the axils. Old stems can become very corky and brown. Related to Mammillaria for these reasons, as well as where the flowers grow from. Some still feel this specie should remain in Mammillaria.

Size: Stems typically growing to around 18 inches long and 1.5 inches in diameter. Clusters can be several feet wide and in habitat, the stems are said to be able to reach several feet long! Up to 6 feet in some cases.

Flowers/Fruit: The flowers of Cochemiea poselgeri are zygomorphic and grow from the axil, like Mammillaria. The flowers have longish tubes and the petals are heavily recurved. Rather unique in shape and appearance. The tubular flowers reach 1.5 to 2� long but don�t open very wide. Red/Orange in color with red stamens and stigma, but with yellow pollen adding a color contrast. Flowers grow from the newer axils near the top of the stem. This plant usually blooms around July/August. Fruit is a bright red and globular in shape wedged between the tubercles.

Sun/Water: Cochemiea poselgeri can take full sun to partial shade and does not require much water once established. In cultivation, watering can be moderate during the summer growing season, but not excessive. A light watering in winter if the temps are warm (70F+) if it�s been kept dry in prior months. Coming from the arid region of Baja California, although coastal, this specie would prefer maximum sunlight, yet cool temperatures with good and constant airflow. These plants have easily survived short periods of low temps. The lowest for us being just below freezing (28F) for a single night. Regular temps in the 40-50F range does not bother it at all, providing it�s dry!

Propagation: Seed and stem cuttings. Easy to grow from seed, although somewhat slow.

Books/Websites: Only basic information is available about this plant online. Some info is scattered within non�specific books. All info provided in this article is from our own observations. More websites can be found on our Reference Links page.

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Cochemiea poselgeri (Hildmann) Britton & Rose 1923

One day we�ll get some of these plants out in the garden and see how they grow with a free root run. All of our plants of this specie (so far) have been pot grown, so all info provided here is from pot culture.