Thimble Cactus (Mammillaria vetula subsp. gracilis) in the Mammillarias Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences:	Dry Mesic Dry
Soil pH Preferences:	Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3) Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Plant Height:	6 inches
Plant Spread:	6 inches
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	White Yellow
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Spring Late spring or early summer
Underground structures:	Taproot
Suitable Locations:	Xeriscapic Houseplant
Resistances:	Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Stem Offsets
Containers:	Suitable in 1 gallon Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous:	With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth

Common names

Thimble Cactus
Biznaga Gracil
Mammillaria

Botanical names

Accepted: Mammillaria vetula subsp. gracilis
Synonym: Mammillaria fragilis
Synonym: Mammillaria gracilis var. fragilis
Synonym: Mammillaria gracilis

Photo Gallery

Location: Baja California
Date: 2023-11-08

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: December 18, 2020

Uploaded by Macrocentra

Location: CA
Date: 5/12/2020
The first bloom my little thimble cactus has ever gotten. #succul

Uploaded by KFredenburg

Uploaded by KFredenburg

Uploaded by Kaktus

Location: my plant shelf
Date: 2021-02-24
KODAK Digital Still Camera

Uploaded by HannahsGarden

Location: CA
Date: 4/10/2020
Very young Sneed’s Spinystar cactus

Uploaded by KFredenburg

Uploaded by skopjecollection

Location: In my garden, Falls Church, VA
Date: 2017-11-20

Uploaded by Frenchy21

Location: Parchur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date: 2023-12-12

Uploaded by chhari55

Uploaded by Kaktus

Location: CA
Date: 4/10/2020
Very young Sneed’s Spinystar cactus on the right

Uploaded by KFredenburg

Uploaded by Frenchy21

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Parchur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date: 2024-01-29

Uploaded by chhari55

Uploaded by chhari55

Uploaded by KFredenburg

Location: At my aunt's garden - Northridge, CA
Date: 2012-01-01
Mamillaria gracilis var fragilis

Uploaded by tarev

Location: Orange
Date: 2017-01-08
In bloom

Uploaded by Englishgardener

Location: My garden in N E Pa.
Date: 2015-10-14

Uploaded by treehugger

Uploaded by Baja_Costero

Location: Parchur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date: 2022-09-09

Uploaded by chhari55

Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Date: 2017-10-09

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by Kaktus

Location: My garden in N E Pa.
Date: 2017-10-12

Uploaded by treehugger

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2010-10-13
coming into bloom

Uploaded by SongofJoy

Location: Arenas Valley, New Mexico my greenhouse
Date: 2015-11-03

Uploaded by plantmanager

Uploaded by jeffgreen

Location: my yard
Date: 2015-06-21
I bought this plant when it was level with the ground and each pa

Uploaded by AgaveGirl1

Location: Botanical Garden of Amsterdam
Date: 2013-08-09

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Orange CA
Date: 2016-06-06
Mammillaria Gracilis

Uploaded by Englishgardener

Uploaded by treehugger

Location: my yard
Date: 2015-06-21
I have started to divide this plant and form new colonies of it.

Uploaded by AgaveGirl1

Uploaded by Frenchy21

Location: Poland. From my collection.
Mammillaria gracilis cv Arizona Snow Cap

Uploaded by Orsola

Uploaded by chhari55

Location: Tampa, FL
Date: 2016-01-26
At USF Botanical Gardens. Tag says "Monstrose" form.

Uploaded by mellielong

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Crest Gardens. Used with permission.

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by treehugger

Uploaded by ljones26

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Joy

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Jul 25, 2023 3:20 PM concerning plant:

Small, densely clumping cactus forming flat-topped mounds. 0-2 straight, reddish brown central spines (usually none); 11-16 thin white radial spines. Pale yellow or white flowers. From Hidalgo and Querétaro in north-central Mexico. Stems break off easily and are easily rooted. An excellent container plant. Widely available. A great cactus for beginners, forgiving of mistakes, easy to propagate.

Much less common in cultivation than the type subspecies Mammillaria (Mammillaria vetula subsp. vetula) (1-2 central spines, 25+ radials).

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Plant Events from our members
srinehart	On August 13, 2019	Obtained plant from Mountain Crest Gardens
hlutzow	On January 9, 2020	Obtained plant cuttings
Macrocentra	On December 18, 2020	Bloomed

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
ID question by Baja_Costero	Apr 11, 2020 1:49 PM	0
ID question by Baja_Costero	Jan 29, 2024 1:01 AM	1

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Mammillarias Thimble Cactus (Mammillaria vetula subsp. gracilis)

Mammillarias

Thimble Cactus (Mammillaria vetula subsp. gracilis)