Old Lady Cactus (Mammillaria hahniana): A White-Haired Globe with a Crown of Pink Flowers

Old Lady Cactus forms a solitary or slowly clustering globe covered in a dense coat of long, white, hair-like radial spines that completely hide the green body. The central spines are short and reddish. In spring, a ring of small, deep pink to magenta flowers encircles the crown. Native to central Mexico, it’s a beloved, easy-to-grow mammillaria that adds a soft, woolly texture to cactus collections.

Taxonomic Profile

Culture

Bright light, some afternoon shade. Very porous soil. Water sparingly; keep dry in winter. Hardy to 20°F (-7°C) if dry. The white hairs protect from intense sun. Propagate from offsets or seeds.