Cabeza de Viejo

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to at least 25°F (-4°C)

Sun Exposure: Light shade

Origin: Mexico (southern Sonora,Sinaloa, Durango) where it is rare. It generally grows under the protection of shrubs or trees.

Growth Habits: Generally solitary, or slowly clumping, bright green to yellowish green stem, 2 to 6 inches tall (5-15 cm), 2 to 5 inches wide (5-12 cm); milky sap; pyramidal tubercles; axils woolly, particularly in the blooming area; very variable number of central spines, even within the areoles of the same plant, generally 3 to 16, 0.1 to 0.3 inch long (3-7 mm); variable number of radials, depending on age and origin, younger plants have more radials (7-13), older ones have less (2-5).

Propagation: Seeds, offsets

Blooming Habits:
The Mammillaria marksiana has 0.6 inch long, 0.6 inch wide (1.5 cm) yellow flowers in late winter (January and February). The fruit is greenish, 0.6 inch long (1.5 cm), ripening in summer.