Gymnocalycium bruchii

Pincushion Gymno! We often cultivate plants based on habit. For example, we are given a plant in a pot and are told that it must be protected and can not tolerate frost so we continue to grow the plant in a container without a thought. Then one day we go to another garden and see that "tender" plant being grown outside in a colder zone. This is the story of Gymnocalycium bruchii for us. For years we grew this plant blissfully in a container not knowing its hardiness. We then visited Tony Avent's garden in Raleigh, zone 7b and saw that Tony was growing G. bruchii outside successfully under the eves of his house. This exposure generated renewed interest in this species and greater interest in the genera as a whole.

Gymnocalycium bruchii is a clustering, mounding cacti that with time offsets and develops a pincushion like mound composed of numerous small, 1.5" to 3" diameter bodies. Colonies can get up to 12" around and about 2"tall. The whitish spines produced on this species are short, thin and bristle-like and recurve backward toward the dark green bodies. This repeat bloomer produces flowers that vary from pink to white and vary in size from 1 inch to 2.5 inches in diameter when fully open. A really great plant deserving greater use in the hardy cactus garden.

Though we saw the plant growing in a zone 7b climate it was up against a building in a slightly protected area so we are listing the plant as a zone 8a to be cautious. Also in areas of cold, wet winters employing a method to shed excessive moisture may be beneficial for hardiness.

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