About Mammillaria sphaerica A.Dietr. ex Engelm.
Mammillaria sphaerica, commonly known as longmamma nipple cactus or pale mammillaria, is a flowering plant species belonging to the cactus family Cactaceae. It is native to southeastern Texas in the United States and northeastern Mexico, where it grows in scattered patches at altitudes up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). This species forms clumps of small pale green spherical stems, which gives it the specific epithet sphaerica; individual stems reach up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter, and are covered in short hairs. In summer, it produces pale yellow flowers that grow up to 3 cm (1.2 in) wide. The IUCN Red List lists Mammillaria sphaerica as a species of Least Concern. It can tolerate temperatures as low as 1 °C (34 °F), but cannot survive freezing conditions. It also requires dry conditions over winter, so it is best grown under glass in temperate regions. It should be planted in standard free-draining, low-nutrient cactus compost and positioned in full sun. This plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
