Mammillaria gracilis fragilis 'Thimble Cactus'

This absolutely adorable cultivar produces numerous small, rounded stems the same size as its namesake, each a bright green and encased in a web of intertwining white spines. As the plant matures, the clusters of offsets will form a mound of foliage several inches wide, but only a couple of inches tall. As if Mammillaria ‘Thimble Cactus’ wasn’t already enough of a charmer, the spring and summer months will make way for numerous blooms of pale yellow with light pink throats, sometimes rivaling the stems for size.

While the stems of ‘Thimble Cactus’ are very prone to breakage when shipped or handled, the fallen stems are quick to re-root when placed into the underlying soil surface. Beyond this, the needs of this variety are quite simple – bright sunlight and thorough but infrequent watering are the two key components of ‘Thimble Cactus’s care. Beyond this, all it asks is for a porous soil mixture within a well-draining pot, and ample airflow around the leaves and soil surface, to help stave off excess moisture and the related rot issues.

Hardy only to Zone 10, ‘Thimble Cactus’ should be protected from frost during the winter months – though a period of exposure to cooler temperatures in the range of 45-55 degree will not harm the plant, and may actually induce more ample blooming in the springtime!

Plant sizing is based on the diameter of the nursery pot (2", 2.5", 3", 4" etc), not the plant itself. Plants may be slightly larger or smaller than the pot they are grow in depending on availability or time of year. While we do our best to ship plants as similar to those pictured as possible, please keep in mind that all plants are unique from one to the next, and display color, shape, and growth variation based on current environment, time of year, and other contributing factors. Please note that we ship our plants as dry as possible in the fall and winter months to prevent root rot or freezing. They will plump back up after planting!