Pink Crown of Flowers: Arizona Fishhook Cactus
I just had to share this photo of my flowering Arizona fishhook cactus(Mammillaria grahamii) also known as (Mammillaria microcarpa).
While walking outside in the garden this morning, I caught a glimpse of pink off in the distance. As I went over to explore further, I noticed my little Arizona fishhook cactus in full bloom. I don’t have many cacti in my garden, but even if I did, this little one would probably still be my favorite.
Pink crowns of flowers appear off and on throughout the summer months in response to rain much to the delight of native bees.
I found this little cactus growing alongside a large boulder in an area of desert that was getting ready to be graded for a new house. At the time my crew and I were digging up different types of cacti, like barrel cacti and teddy bear cholla, to relocate them around the site out of harm’s way. I received permission to keep this little one.
One of the things that I love about this little cactus is its flowers off and on during the summer months in response to rain or a small amount of water from my garden hose.
Look closely at the spines, you can see where it gets their common name with their fishhook shape.
Believe it or not, I can hold this cactus (carefully) without getting pricked.
During the rest of the year, this small cactus fades into the background and is hard to see. You can find it growing underneath bursage shrubs throughout the desert.
Do you have a favorite flowering cactus in your garden?
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Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
