Plant Lust
ShopOrderSellblog
0

  • Plant types

  • Plant styles

  • Planting conditions

  • Seasonal interest

  • Nurseries & Gardens

    • Photo of Thelocactus tulensis flower by The Ruth Bancroft Garden

    Photo by The Ruth Bancroft Garden

    Used with permission, all rights reserved

    Show all photos

    Thelocactus tulensis

    Plant type

    cactus / succulent

    size

    • H: 4"-6"
    • W: 4"-10"

    planting zones

    • 9a-11

    More Options

    Thelocactus tulensis plant details

    Thelocactus tulensis is an evergreen cactus / succulent with blue foliage. In spring pink and white flowers emerge. Features fuzzy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in average, gritty and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Thelocactus tulensis

    Plant type: cactus / succulent
    Plant family: cactaceae
    Foliage: evergreen blue
    Mature size: 4 IN - 10 IN - wide, 4 IN - 6 IN - tall
    Flowers: pink and white blooms in spring

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Thelocactus tulensis

    USDA Zones: 9a - 11
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
    Watering frequency: low
    Resistant to: heat and verticillium wilt
    Soil needs: average, gritty and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Thelocactus is a genus of about 12 to 15 species of globular cacti native to northeasteren Mexico, with one species extending across the border into Texas. They are generally of modest size, though the largest species may be up to 10” across (25 cm). Most are single-headed, but some are clump-forming. One kind of Thelocactus which does well at the Ruth Bancroft Garden is Thelocactus tulensis, native to the Mexican states of San Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas. These chubby cacti have spine clusters atop rounded or conical tubercles. The spine length and density varies, but the spines are never so thick as to obscure the plant body, which is green to gray-green, sometimes with a reddish tinge. Plants may be single or clumping, with heads from 4 to 7 inches across (10 – 18 cm) The flowers of Thelocactus tulensis emerge in spring at the top of the plant, with the flower color varying from white to pink to pale yellow. After the initial flush of flowering in early spring, plants often produce subsequent flushes at intervals through the spring months. The flowers are 1¼ to 2 inches or more in diameter (3 to 6 cm).

    By: The Ruth Bancroft Garden

    Gardening facts about Thelocactus tulensis plant

    How to Grow Thelocactus tulensis

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly sun

    • Water Needs

      • low - drought tolerant

    • Soil Needs

      • average
      • well-drained
      • gritty

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • blue

    • Flower Color

      • white
      • pink

    • Flower Season

      • spring

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

    • Texture

      • fuzzy

    Landscape groups by tags

    See other plant types of Thelocactus for your garden

    Thelocactus bicolor

    aka Cactus bicolor, Echinocactus bicolor, Echinocactus bicolor var. bolaensis, Echinocactus bicolor var. pottsii, Echinocactus bicolor var. tricolor, Echinocactus bolaensis, Echinocactus bolaensis, Echinocactus bolansis, Echinocactus rhodophthalmus, Echinocactus schottii, Echinocactus schottii, Echinocactus wagnerianus, Ferocactus bicolor, Ferocactus bicolor var. bolaensis, Hamatocactus bicolor, Thelocactus bicolor ssp. bolaensis, Thelocactus bicolor var. bolaensis, Thelocactus bicolor var. commodus, Thelocactus bicolor var. pottsii, Thelocactus bicolor var. schottii, Thelocactus bicolor var. schottii, Thelocactus bicolor var. texensis, Thelocactus bicolor var. tricolor, Thelocactus bicolor var. wagnerianus, Thelocactus pottsii, Thelocactus schottii, Thelocactus schottii, Thelocactus wagnerianus, Wagnerianus bicolor var. schottii, Glory of Texas

    Plant Type

    Cactus / Succulent

    Zones

    9b-11

    Size

    Height: 8"

    Width: 8"

    • sun - mostly sun
    • drought tolerant
    • dry when dormant
    Photo of Thelocactus bicolor flower, form by Peter Gabor Sulyan
    View Plant

    More Options

    Thelocactus hexaedrophorus

    aka Echinocactus droegeanus, Echinocactus hexaedrophorus, Thelocactus hexaedrophorus subsp. hexaedrophorus, Thelocactus hexaedrophorus var. hexaedrophorus

    Plant Type

    Cactus / Succulent

    Zones

    10a-11

    Size

    Height: 1"-2"

    Width: 6"-8"

    • sun
    • low - drought tolerant
    Photo of Thelocactus hexaedrophorus close-up, form, spiky by Stan Shebs
    View Plant

    More Options

    Thelocactus rinconensis

    aka Echinocactus lophothele, Echinocactus nidulans, Echinocactus phymatothelos, Echinocactus rinconensis, Thelocactus lophothele, Thelocactus lophothele var. nidulans, Thelocactus multicephalus, Thelocactus nidulans, Thelocactus phymatothelos, Thelocactus rinconensis ssp. freudenbergeri, Thelocactus rinconensis ssp. multicephalus, Thelocactus rinconensis ssp. nidulans, Thelocactus rinconensis ssp. phymatothelos, Thelocactus rinconensis var. freudenbergeri, Thelocactus rinconensis var. nidulans, Thelocactus rinconensis var. phymatothelos

    Plant Type

    Cactus / Succulent

    Zones

    9a-11

    Size

    Height: 6"-8"

    Width: 8"-10"

    • sun
    • drought tolerant
    Photo of Thelocactus rinconensis close-up, flower, form, spiky by Stan Shebs
    View Plant

    More Options

    Thelocactus bicolor ssp. schwarzii

    aka Ferocactus bicolor var. schwarzii, Thelocactus bicolor var. schwarzii, Thelocactus schwarzii

    Plant Type

    Cactus / Succulent

    Zones

    9a-11

    Size

    Height: 3"-4"

    Width: 2"-3"

    • sun
    • low - drought tolerant
    Photo of Thelocactus bicolor ssp. schwarzii foliage by Kara Nursery
    View Plant

    More Options

    Ferocactus cylindraceus

    aka Echinocactus acanthodes, Echinocactus acanthodes var. rostii, Echinocactus cylindraceus, Echinocactus rostii, Echinocactus viridescens var. cylindraceus, Ferocactus acanthodes, Ferocactus acanthodes var. rostii, Ferocactus rostii, Thelocactus hertrichii, California Barrel Cactus, Compass Barrel Cactus

    Plant Type

    Cactus / Succulent

    Zones

    9a-10b

    Size

    Height: 48"-72"

    Width: 6"-12"

    • sun
    • occasional - drought tolerant
    Photo of Ferocactus cylindraceus form by Stan Shebs
    View Plant

    More Options

    +9 more Thelocactus
    Mailing List
    Sign Up for updates on new plant arrivals and deals

    © 2010—2026 Plant Lust, LLC All Rights Reserved