29 November 2007
In flower now – Mammillaria karwinskiana ‘nejapensis’
Posted by Stuart under: Cacti .
Here is my plant of Mammillaria karwinskiana ‘nejapensis’. Admittedly this photograph was taken on the 14th of November, but it’s still in flower now and reliably performs in its own modest way throughout the winter months most years. The plant is in a 7-inch pot.
Below there’s a close-up of a flower. Some Mammillaria species leave me cold, I must admit, but I think this form of M. karwinskiana is superb. The thick wool is fabulous.
I’ve had the plant for a good few years, during which time it’s moved up two pot sizes, and it was obtained from a local garden centre back when they supplied succulent plants of respectable quality.
Sadly, as with so many garden centres, their selection has become poorer and poorer over the intervening time.
About three years ago the crown began to show signs of dividing, which eventually it did – trichotomously rather than dichotomously.
I’m looking forward to its development over the course of the next few years. It will certainly be interesting to see how the branched apex grows.