About Mammillaria magnimamma Haw.
Mammillaria magnimamma Haw. is a perennial globose plant that reaches 15–30 cm in height and about 13 cm in diameter. It grows solitary at first, but later forms large clumps that rise above ground level. Its four-sided tubercules contain latex, and the axils have dense white wool. It has 2–5 radial spines that are quite variable and unequal, with dark tips, and 15–45 mm long. The flowers are pink or creamy white with reddish midveins, 20–25 mm in diameter, and bloom in mid-spring. Fruits are club-shaped, dark red, about 20 mm long, and contain small brown seeds. This species is widespread across central Mexico, growing at an elevation of 100–2,700 metres (330–8,860 ft) above sea level, and it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. In cultivation, Mammillaria magnimamma can tolerate temperatures down to 1 °C (34 °F), so it may be placed outside during summer in temperate zones, but requires protection from frost and bad weather in winter. It needs to be grown in a well-drained medium in full sun, and has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
