@Hamwild
Yes, the Mammillaria heyderi ssp hemisphaerica, which is native here, does. The rings aren't always as pronounced as the one in the photo. Also, it's not as noticeable because the profile of the plant is much flatter.

Ooh, that's a pretty one! I didn't know any were native to the U.S. I mean, I knew Yuccas and Optunia grow wild here, but to have that growing wild in my backyard!

Here are some native U.S. Mammillarias.
http://www.americansouthwest.n...

So cool!

plantmanager said:Here are some native U.S. Mammillarias.
http://www.americansouthwest.n...

This link made me question my identification of the Mammillaria heyderi. I'm still not certain, but at the bottom of this link there is a photo comparison between M. heyderi and M. meiacantha: http://www.cactusconservation....
If I'm recalling correctly, I think it was the placement of the spines that was the ultimate deciding factor. The one that grows here on the farm looks like the heyderi. If any one has input on the i.d., it would be welcome. I can always go to either/or.

That description of them getting flat in dry conditions is very true. Even getting below the soil level at times. I have a few that have crept into the edge of the yard and they tend to be safe from the mower blades even on a reasonably low setting. But in the wet years I can skim the top mowing. Those are the ones I've tried to domesticate and grow in containers. But I've found they are going to need winter protection when they are container grown.

I guess we're getting way off topic on dyed and glued plants here.

edited to add the link

I was just thinking about if you could mow oven them, as they look so flat.

I feel painted cactus is false advertizing. The stores should be fined by agency or someone should file lawsuit (class action) against filthy pigs selling them.

Yesterday I was at a Home Depot and this girl went up to the plants and picked up a spray painted xGasteraloe that was starting to grow but since it was in a very dark spot the new growth was nearly white. She told her mom they were 'glow-in-the-dark succulents'. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️
The stupidity...
I lost more than few brain cells when I heard her say that.

BlueOddish said:Yesterday I was at a Home Depot and this girl went up to the plants and picked up a spray painted Haworthia that was starting to grow but since it was in a very dark spot the new growth was nearly white. She told her mom they were 'glow-in-the-dark succulents'. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️
The stupidity...
I lost more than few brain cells when I heard her say that.

Before you laugh yourself too silly, Google "Glowing Star in the Dark" Echeveria.

There's a glow in the dark Mammillaria too.

Welcome Adam. Hope you enjoy our forums.
As far as painted anything. Yes it is deceptive and being a big fan of variegated plants, I would be very upset with any one who would paint stripes on a plant to sell it. It should have a big sign stating that these are painted plants and the paint will not be on any new leaves if they survive that is. I think a class action lawsuit might be the best way to teach them not to fool around with stupid people. Most of us here saw thru this and was upset. When asked why they do this, he said, because it sells. Most of the buyers will say, they did something wrong or they can't grow this kind of plant after it dies.

DaisyI said:Before you laugh yourself too silly, Google "Glowing Star in the Dark" Echeveria.

Presumably there aren't too many people taking advantage of their 100% growth and flowering guarantee.

Baja_Costero said:

Presumably there aren't too many people taking advantage of their 100% growth and flowering guarantee.

Most of the buyers who have come to us with their dead or dying plants bought them dead/dying because they couldn't tell otherwise. I wonder what that does to the guarantee.

These plants are awful, I always feel so bad for them being all mucked up! I've read that having cacti colored and with fake flowers actually increases sales..

Not that I'm supporting dyed plants, but with the fact you can buy many clearance plants for $1 and just spray paint them yourself, why not do it yourself isn't DIY projects the in trend anyway? 😄 some People never cease to amaze me how foolish they can be

I think the paint used is a non-toxic water base. If you used regular spray paint, might hasten death.

I don't think it's water based. I never had it come off with water and honestly the store or wholesaler really don't care if the plant dies or not.

I suspect it's some kind of water based paint, so I think eventually the paint would disappear and the plant would have normal growth. I'm not too sure anyone who bought them would want the natural plant though.

Before I knew I could grow anything/keep anything alive, I bought a purple one. After having it for almost 3 years it's beautiful with the beautiful natural growth and it needs a bigger pot again. I've learned a lot from that cactus that was painted that awful purple color. You can still see the purple but the natural unpainted new growth mostly covers the purple. My sister is doing the same thing. Her first one died of overwatering, she showed me after... poor baby she named it aqua. She did a burial ceremony for her before giving her back to the earth and got another painted one that looks very well taken care of and loved, she's now excited for it to look like mine- at 24 years old she named this one greenie.

Now I have more plants (never again painted) and grow a vegetable garden all because of that stupidly painted cactus which I cherish because she taught me so much about living things and myself when I was at my lowest. So that's one of the reason people would buy them.

@Jzavar
I'm really glad you made this post! I've never bought one and often wondered who might make the purchase and what would happen ultimately. Great story! I really do like the outcome. Hope that plant lives a long, long time for you. And, if you can, I'd love to see a photo after it has grown beyond a purple haze :).