Origin
South America
Light
Dappled shade
Watering
Twice a week
Care
Expert
Flowering
Foliage
Indoor
Coussin de Belle-Mère
A perfectly spherical green barrel armed with golden spines — common worldwide, nearly gone at home.
Care Profile
A guide to ensuring your botanical companion thrives.
Origin
Mexico
Light
Full sun
Watering
Rarely
Maintenance
Easy
Everywhere except where it belongs
You'll find it in garden centres across the planet, yet its wild population survives in only a few ravines in the Mexican state of Querétaro.
A dam flooded much of its natural habitat in the 1990s: the species is now threatened in the wild while being produced by the million in nurseries.
"Sold by the million, protected by the hundred."
01
Styling Tip 01
All the sun you can give
A south-facing spot year-round: in shade it elongates into a shell shape and loses its roundness.
02
Styling Tip 02
Dry from November to March
No water in winter, kept cool and dry: it tolerates cold, never damp cold.
03
Styling Tip 03
Handle with care
The spines are long and rigid: move it with thick gloves or a folded strip of newspaper.
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Origin
Southeast Asia
Light
Low to bright
Watering
Weekly
Care
Easy
Flowering
Foliage