Publication: Kakteenkunde 142, fig. 1934
Description
Echinopsis densispina is a low growing cactus species with colourful flowers ranging from yellow to orange and red. It is an exceedingly variable species with a bit of variation throughout its range and some taxonomists recognize several varieties. The segregation of the many forms, varieties, and subspecies on the basis of spines morphology and flowers colour, however, is difficult to support, given the continuous range of variation in spination and flower colour over its geographic range.
Habit: Solitary or forming clusters or cushions from a large tap root, it is a very variable specie with several different forms.
Stem: Ovoid, greyish-green, dull green or brown-purplish-green, up to 8 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter.
Ribs: Approximately 17, more or less notched, forming tubercles.
Areoles: Yellowish-white, somewhat sunken, about 5 mm apart.
Spines: Quite variable in form, length and number, forming a close network that shades and in many cases almost hides the body.
Central spines: 0 to 7, brown, with darker tips straight or somewhat curved. Larger at the base, 0,5 to 2 cm long.
Radial spines: 16-22, spreading or sometimes appressed against the stem, bristle-like, flexible, whitish, 4 mm long.
Flowers: The flowers occur in many colours, varying from yellow to orange and red, up to 8,5 cm long.
Origin and Habitat
Soutnern Bolivia, northern Argentina
Cultivation and Propagation
Echinopsis densispina is a summer-growing species that offers no cultivation difficulty, not as badly affected by moisture as other cactus species. It makes great potted specimens.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus). It grows in limestone areas of Texas (Big Bend area) and adjacent areas of Mexico, so will probably benefit from extra calcium in its soil.
Growth rate: It grows well, though slowly, but it possible to increase the speed of growth to some extent by providing adequate amount of water, warmth, and a liquid fertilizer diluted half strength during the active growing season, but it’s susceptible to rotting if too wet. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.
Soil: It needs a very porous, slightly acidic potting medium (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite). Outdoors it does well on poor, rocky soils.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Exposure: It likes a sunny position also blasting sun in summer. If grown indoor provide 4 to 6 hours, or more, direct morning or afternoon sun.
Watering: It should be watered regularly in Summer allowing to dry before watering again and kept drier in Winter. It is very drought-tolerant.
Hardiness: It can be grown outdoors in frost-free climates, needs anyway to kept above 5 °C and dry in winter. But it can tolerate temperatures down to -5° C (or even less) for very short periods if very dry and ventilated. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.
Maintenance: Repot every two years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. It like pots with generous drain holes.
Pest & diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
Propagation: Seeds or cuttings. The seeds may be germinated and grown in containers. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Walther Haage “Cacti as House Plants” Studio Vista, 1965
-
Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
-
James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
-
David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
-
Curt Backeberg: “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Volume V, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
-
Lowry, M. 2013. Echinopsis densispina. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 January 2014.
From llifle page Hymenorebutia albolanata
Description
Echinopsis densispina f. albolanata (Lobivia albolanata) is a solitary or slowly branching white woolly form of Echinopsis densispina. However the distinguishing soft white spines of Echinopsis densispina f. albolanata, appear to fall within the natural variation of Echinopsis densispina and it should be synonymized with the latter.
Stem: 3-6 cm in diameter, 4-10 cm tall, short columnar, somewhat woolly, especially near the crown of the plant. Epidermis glaucous-green to dark purplish red coloured in full sun.
Ribs: Not very prominent, vertical and shortly tuberculated.
Areoles: Fluffy white.
Radial spines: 12-20 or more, short up to 1 cm (usually less) very fine, flexible, whitish and almost pectinated.
Central spines: Usually absent, but occasionally 1 or 2 stronger and darker.
Roots:Fat tuberose tap root.
Flowers: Golden yellow. It’s supposed to be free flowering but plant start flowering only when 4-5 years old.
Origin and Habitat
Santa Victoria to Quebrada del Toro, Salta, Argentina.
Cultivation and Propagation
It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties. Lobivia albolanata has a fairly large tap root, and should be kept in a deep pot with a very draining mineral substrate. Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ) keep dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. Repot yearly until reaching about 100 mm in size, then every two or three years will suffice. Repotting is best done at the end of winter but can be done at other times. Do not water for a couple of weeks after repotting to reduce risk of root rot via broken roots. Repotting will increase size of stems. It is quite cold tolerant if kept dry (hardy to -5° C). Need a bright exposure, full sun or half shade in summer.
Propagation: Seed, grafting, cutting. (seldom produces offsets)
Source: Hymenorebutia albolanata, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Hymenorebutia sublimiflora
Description
Echinopsis densispina f. sublimiflora (still known in cultivation with its old name Lobivia sublimiflora) is a geographical or morphological form of the exceedingly variable Echinopsis densispina characteristically covered with diaphanous, pectinate spines, central spine blacker and pointing upwards. The beautiful flowers are very large for the size of plant, lustrous salmon-pink to carmine in colour.
Habit: It is a low growing cactus species forming clusters or cushions from a large tap root.
Stem: Ovoid, greyish-green, dull green or brown-purplish-green, up to 8 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter.
Ribs: Approximately 17, more or less notched, forming tubercles.
Areoles: Yellowish-white, somewhat sunken, about 5 mm apart.
Radial spines: 16-22 white, up to 4 mm long, diaphanous, pectinate, appressed against the stem, bristle-like, flexible, forming a close network that shades and almost hides the body.
Central spines: 0 to 7, blacker and pointing upwards. Larger at the base about 5 mm long.
Flowers: The flowers varying from salmon-pink to carmine, up to 8,5 cm long, often larger than the plants itself.
Origin and Habitat
Lobivia sublimiflora has a relatively restricted range in Jujuy, northern Argentina.
Altitude: It occurs at elevations from 2200 to 3300 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It grows in sand and soft soils in prepuna grassland with short bushes and inter-Andean valleys together with Rebutia euanthema, Rebutia pseudodeminuta and Lobivia jajoiana. The species is locally abundant and there are no major threats. It regenerates very fast.
Cultivation and Propagation
Echinopsis densispina f. sublimiflora is a summer-growing species that offers no cultivation difficulty, not as badly affected by moisture as other cactus species. It makes great potted specimens.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus). It grows in limestone areas of Texas (Big Bend area) and adjacent areas of Mexico, so will probably benefit from extra calcium in its soil.
Growth rate: It grows well, though slowly, but it possible to increase the speed of growth to some extent by providing adequate amount of water, warmth, and a liquid fertilizer diluted half strength during the active growing season, but it’s susceptible to rotting if too wet. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.
Soil: It needs a very porous, slightly acidic potting medium (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite). Outdoors it does well on poor, rocky soils.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Exposure: It likes a sunny position also blasting sun in summer. If grown indoor provide 4 to 6 hours, or more, direct morning or afternoon sun.
Watering: It should be watered regularly in Summer allowing to dry before watering again and kept drier in Winter. It is very drought-tolerant.
Hardiness: It can be grown outdoors in frost-free climates, needs anyway to kept above 5 °C and dry in winter. But it can tolerate temperatures down to -5° C (or even less) for very short periods if very dry and ventilated. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.
Maintenance: Repot every two years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. It like pots with generous drain holes.
Pest & diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
Propagation: Seeds or cuttings. The seeds may be germinated and grown in containers. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
Bibliography
Major references and further lectures
-
Walther Haage “Cacti as House Plants” Studio Vista, 1965
-
Edward Anderson “The Cactus family” Timber Press, Incorporated, 2001
-
James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/Aug/2011
-
David R Hunt; Nigel P Taylor; Graham Charles; International Cactaceae Systematics Group. “The New Cactus Lexicon” dh books, 2006
-
Curt Backeberg: “Die Cactaceae: Handbuch der Kakteenkunde” Volume V, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart New York 1982–1985
-
- Lowry, M. 2013. Echinopsis densispina. In: IUCN 2013. “IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.” Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 January 2014.
Source: Hymenorebutia sublimiflora, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Lobivia famatimensis var. aurantiaca
Description
Echinopsis densispina f. aurantiaca (a.k.a. Lobivia pectinifera var. aurantiaca) is one of the innumerable local form of the very variable Lobivia pectinifera. It distinguishes for the flowers occurring in various shades of yellow and for the tight slightly pectineted spines. It flowers quite readily making this species a beautiful one at flowering time, which is usually May to June.
Habit: It is a low growing cactus species solitary or forming clusters or cushions from a large tap root.
Stem: Ovoid, greyish-green, dull green or brown-purplish-green, up to 8 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter.
Ribs: Approximately 17, more or less notched, forming tubercles.
Areoles: Yellowish-white, somewhat sunken, about 5 mm apart.
Spines: Forming a close network that shades the body.
Central spines: Often wanting.
Radial spines: 16-22, brownish, spreading to somewhat pectinated appressed against the stem, bristle-like, flexible, whitish, 4 mm long.
Flowers: The flowers occur in several shades of yellow, varying from pale yellow to orangish-yellow, up to 8,5 cm long.
Origin and Habitat
Argentina.
Cultivation and Propagation
Echinopsis densispina f. aurantiaca is a summer-growing species that offers no cultivation difficulty, not as badly affected by moisture as other cactus species. It makes great potted specimens.
Soil: Use a mineral well permeable soil with little organic matter (peat, humus). It grows in limestone areas of Texas (Big Bend area) and adjacent areas of Mexico, so will probably benefit from extra calcium in its soil.
Growth rate: It grows well, though slowly, but it possible to increase the speed of growth to some extent by providing adequate amount of water, warmth, and a liquid fertilizer diluted half strength during the active growing season, but it’s susceptible to rotting if too wet. Most plants will offset readily, and clumps can be produced in a few years.
Soil: It needs a very porous, slightly acidic potting medium (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite). Outdoors it does well on poor, rocky soils.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Exposure: It likes a sunny position also blasting sun in summer. If grown indoor provide 4 to 6 hours, or more, direct morning or afternoon sun.
Watering: It should be watered regularly in Summer allowing to dry before watering again and kept drier in Winter. It is very drought-tolerant.
Hardiness: It can be grown outdoors in frost-free climates, needs anyway to kept above 5 °C and dry in winter. But it can tolerate temperatures down to -5° C (or even less) for very short periods if very dry and ventilated. During winter month, put them in a cool luminous place and encourage them to enter winter dormancy by withholding water and fertiliser over the winter as they will etiolate, or become thin, due to lower levels of light.
Maintenance: Repot every two years. Needs lots and lots of space to grow, use large shallow container or bowl filled with very porous compost. It like pots with generous drain holes.
Pest & diseases: They are susceptible to fungal diseases if overwatered, but are not nearly as sensitive as many other cacti, especially in warm weather. If kept damp through cold periods, they will invariably suffer.
Propagation: Seeds or cuttings. The seeds may be germinated and grown in containers. Their main requirements consist of high humidity levels, free-draining soil mix, and enough water, light, and nutrition.
Source: Lobivia famatimensis var. aurantiaca, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
From llifle page Lobivia haematantha var. pectinifera
Description
Echinopsis densispina var. pectinifera firstly described as Lobivia pectinifera is an hight altitude form of the wide ranging and very variable Echinopsis densispina with shirt pectinated spines. The differences with other Echinopsis densispina are in reality very minimal and most botanist agree on the fact that both should all be included in the Echinopsis densispina. The segregation of the many forms, varieties, and subspecies on the basis of spines morphology and flowers colour, however, is difficult to support, given the continuous range of variation in spination and flower colour over its geographic range.
Habit: Solitary or forming clusters or cushions from a large tap root, it is a very variable specie with several different forms.
Stem: Ovoid, greyish-green, dull green or brown-purplish-green, up to 8 cm tall and 5 cm in diameter.
Ribs: Approximately 17, more or less notched, forming tubercles.
Areoles: Yellowish-white, somewhat sunken, about 5 mm apart.
Central spines: Usually absent.
Radial spines: 16-22, Short, somewhat pectinated and appressed against the stem, bristle-like, flexible, whitish, 4 mm long. Forming a network that shades the body.
Flowers: The flowers occur in many colours, varying from yellow to orange and red, up to 8,5 cm long.
Origin and Habitat
Tilcara, Jujuy, Argentina
Altitude: 2700 metres above sea level.
Source: Lobivia haematantha var. pectinifera, LLIFLE - Encyclopedia of living forms, CC-BY-SA, retrieved 2026-10-25.
Cultivars and forms (8)
Varieties (1)
Forms (6)
Cultivars (1)
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