Thelocactus

Thelocactusconothelos

Family
Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ee)
Genus
Thelocactus (thel-oh-KAK-tus)
Species
conothelos (kon-oh-THEL-os)
Synonym
Thelocactus conothelos subsp. conothelos
Thelocactus smithii
Echinocactus conothelos
Gymnocactus conothelos
Thelocactus conothele
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade
Height
under 6 in. (15 cm)
6-12 in. (15-30 cm)
Spacing
6-9 in. (15-22 cm)
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color
Pink
Magenta (pink-purple)
Gold (yellow-orange)
Pale Yellow
Bright Yellow
Medium Purple
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Late Winter/Early Spring
Other Details
Category
Cactus and Succulents
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; direct sow after last frost
From seed; germinate in vitro in gelatin, agar or other medium
Seed Collecting
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
Regional

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Gardener's Notes:

0
positive
2
neutrals
0
negative
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Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9b) | May 2005 | neutral

Other synonyms include:
Thelocactus conothele
Pediocactus smithii
Neolloydia smithii
Echinocactus conothel...Read More


The 'conothelos' subspecies usually grows single stemmed & globose; the tubercles are not obscured by the spines. It has 1 to 4 central spines and 10-16 radial spines. The flowers are magenta to white or light pink with a darker pink midstripe.
The 'argenteus' subspecies grows a solitary single globose or cylindrical stem with the tubercles mostly obscured by spines. The central spines are creamy-white and shredding with age. It has roughly 20 glassy-silvery-grayish-white radial spines. The flowers are a more solid deep pinkish and/or pink-purple.
The 'aurantiacus' subspecies grows a solitary single globose or cylindrical stem with the tubercles mostly covered by spines. It has 4 central spines and 17-23 radial spines that are glassy-white with yellow bases. The flowers are solid orange-yellow to burnt orange or bright yellow.

P
Acton, CA (Zone 8b) | March 2004 | neutral

Solitary cactus with a brilliant pink flower in the late winter. Plant itselt looks a lot like a robust Mammillaria, but flower much larger.

Featured
Leaf Footed Bug
(Leptoglossus fulvicornis)
Northern Cardinal
(Cardinalis cardinalis)
Featured
Leaf Footed Bug
(Leptoglossus fulvicornis)
Northern Cardinal
(Cardinalis cardinalis)