I have about ten species of Coryphantha grown from seedlings obtained nearly ten years ago. They are attractive plants that flower freely once they reach maturity. Supposedly easy plants to cultivate, although slow-growing. They appear to like bright and warm conditions (mine are growing in full sun in a glasshouse).

Coryphanthas are widely distributed from Mexico, through much of the United States, with one species found in southern Canada. They can be found from sea level to above 2000m, and grow in a variety of habitats from semi-arid deserts and grasslands to more humid deciduous woods.

They are small to medium sized spherical to slightly elongated cacti. Body colour ranges from green to greyish green. They can be solitary growing or form offsets from the base. The bodies have fairly prominent tubercles as in the closely related Mammillarias, but unlike them the tubercle has a groove along its entire length.

C radians

C cornifera

C echinoidea

The flowers are formed at the base of the groove in the axil of the tubercle. Most species are strongly spined, with up to 30 radials and 1 to 4 central spines that can be straight or slightly curved but not hooked and are often brightly coloured.

The flowers are large and glossy, and come in a range of colours, from yellow and orange to pink and magenta, sometimes with a darker centre. They arise centrally from the crown which is covered with tufts of hair (the name Coryphantha is from Greek and means “flowering on the top”). This is contrary to Mammillarias, which flower in a circle around the top. Flowering is in summer.

Photos © Tony Wood