About
Copiapoa cinerea is a perennial cactus that develops into a compact, globe-like shape, typically reaching heights of up to 1.2 meters. Its stems exhibit a range from green to a chalky white, featuring a waxy texture and a woolly crown, complemented by dark spines. There is variability among the varieties, with some displaying longer spines while others may be nearly spineless. This species usually produces funnel-shaped yellow flowers, but these blooms are primarily seen under greenhouse conditions.
About the genus
Copiapoa comprises slow-growing cacti characterized by either solitary or clustered stems that feature prominent ribs. In the summer months, they produce funnel-shaped yellow blossoms.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Cactus Succulent
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants
- Native to
- N Chile
- Toxicity
- Handle with care due to prickly spines
Care notes
- Cultivation
- In milder areas, may be grown outdoors in gritty, poor soil in full sun. Protect from excess winter wet. In colder areas, grow under glass in a mix of 3 parts standard cactus compost and one part perlite. This is a desert plant, native to one of the driest regions of the world; water moderately from spring to early autumn and keep dry in winter. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for more details
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown at 19-24°C (66-75°F) in early spring, or by division, removing offsets in summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to mealybugs when grown under glass
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free