Say it: eh-ky-noh-foss-yoo-loh-CAC-tus. Common names: brain cactus, wave cactus. Botanists now call the genus Stenocactus.
Where it grows
The high plateaus of central Mexico, in grassland and rocky ground.
Size and growth
Small globes, 3–5 inches across, with an extraordinary number of thin, wavy ribs — some species have over 100 — folded like a brain. Flat, papery spines lie across the ribs. Moderate growth and quick to mature: flowering in about 3 years from seed.
Flowers
Early in spring, before most cacti: white or pink flowers with a purple stripe down each petal, from the crown.
Care
- Light: bright light to full sun.
- Water: regular in summer, dry in winter.
- Soil: gritty, fast-draining.
- Cold: hardy to around 20°F if dry.
From seed
Easy. Germination in 7–21 days. The wavy ribs develop as the plants size up. Our assorted mix includes several species, so no two seedlings fold the same way.