Description
Ariocarpus retusus Scheidw., commonly known as the rock peony, is a perennial herbaceous succulent in the cactus family and the Ariocarpus genus. The plant is globose or flattened into a lotus-like base, grey‑green, with a powdery white coating on the surface of the globe. The globe bears triangular wart‑like protrusions; the upper surface is flat or slightly concave, without fissures, and the tiny spines are attached to the wart‑like protrusions. White woolly hairs grow between the top of the globe and the wart‑like protrusions. Flowers emerge from the cluster of woolly hairs at the top of the globe, measuring 4 cm long and 5 cm across, usually white with a few red flowers. Blooming occurs in summer. The fruit is smooth and the seeds are black.
It is native to the dry, rocky, limestone‑gravel areas of northern Mexico. Introduced to China, it is widely cultivated in many places. It prefers warm summers, cool winters, plenty of sunlight, and good air circulation. It is drought‑tolerant, relatively cold‑resistant, but dislikes waterlogging and thrives in thin soils.
The rock peony is the representative species of the Ariocarpus genus of cactus‑like plants, known as the “living rock.” It is a common small potted ornamental cactus.
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