About Astrophytum capricorne (A.Dietr.) Britton & Rose
Astrophytum capricorne, commonly called the goat's horn cactus, is a flowering plant species in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to the Coahuila regions of Northern Mexico. It grows in a ball or oval shape, reaching up to 50 centimetres (20 in) tall and 10 centimetres (3.9 in) wide. It is grey-green with 7 to 9 prominent ribs, very long twisted spines, and yellow flowers with a red centre that bloom in summer. Its common name goat's horn cactus comes from its species epithet capricorne: capri means "goat" and corne means "horn", which refers to its curved spines that are said to resemble a goat's horns. The IUCN lists this species as "least concern" because it is widely distributed in the Chihuahuan desert. This species is cultivated as an ornamental plant, usually grown from seed, for its large, attractive yellow flowers with red central regions. Some cultivars have white flecking on their bodies, while others do not. Although it can tolerate cool temperatures, it needs to be grown in a warm, sheltered location that does not freeze over winter. It requires poor, alkaline, very sharply drained soil. Alternatively, it can be grown potted under glass using cactus compost. In cultivation in the United Kingdom, Astrophytum capricorne has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Prominent varieties and cultivars of this species are: Astrophytum capricorne 'Crassispinoides', Astrophytum capricorne var. crassispinum, Astrophytum capricorne var. minus, Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum, Astrophytum capricorne var. senile, and Astrophytum capricorne var. aureum.
