Pelecyphora alversonii

The foxtail cactus, formerly Escobaria or Coryphantha alversonii, a densely spined cylindrical cactus of the Colorado and Mojave desert transition in southeastern California and western Arizona. It wants intense sun, extreme summer heat, cool winters and very little water, and it rots easily if kept damp.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Rocky granitic slopes, bajadas and washes in creosote-bush desert scrub, fully exposed.

Recorded at about 75–730 m (median 400 m); generally reported up to about 900 m.

CaliforniaArizona

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

Grow Pelecyphora alversonii? Add it to a free garden and its full profile opens. Pro opens all 38,374 profiles in the library, plants and fungi.

Start free Sign in

More Pelecyphora

Pelecyphora sneedii Pelecyphora vivipara Pelecyphora macromeris Pelecyphora missouriensis Pelecyphora robbinsiorum Pelecyphora minima Pelecyphora tuberculosa Pelecyphora dasyacantha Pelecyphora emskoetteriana Pelecyphora aselliformis Pelecyphora chihuahuensis Pelecyphora chlorantha All 21 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.