Family: Cactaceae
Habitat: USA and Mexico.
Cultivation: Depends on the species.
Curiosity: These plants were named in honor of the scientist Timothy Wilcox.

KEY FEATURES

Wilcoxia is a subgenus of cactus, contained in the genus “Echinocereus”. This subgenus includes only 6 species, native to the United States and Mexico. They were named in honor of the scientist Timothy Wilcox.

The best-known species of Wilcoxia are undoubtedly W. poselgeri, a plant native to habitats of xerophytic scrublands (woods of drought-resistant plants) at all altitudes up to 1100 meters above sea level, and W. schmolii, native to semi-desert habitats at high altitudes (between 1600 and 1800 meters above sea level).

Wilcoxias are cacti with slender stems, divided into ribs with numerous thorns.Some species, such as W. poselgeri, prefer to climb or grow leaning against larger trees to ensure support despite their slender stems. From the areoles in which the thorns develop, the flowers, large and showy (wider than the stem!), of various colors, with numerous petals, also grow.

VARIETY AND TYPES

Here below are a few species of Wilcoxia: check our online stores to find out more ones!

• Wilcoxia lazaro-cardenasii
• Wilcoxia nerispina
• Wilcoxia roenleinii

TIPS FOR GROWING

With just a few simple cares, your Wilcoxia will give you a lot of satisfaction.

• The best exposure is usually in full sun, outdoors . A few species prefer partially sunny places.
• The resistance to cold changes a lot depending on the species: those native from higher altitudes have a better resistance to cold (in completely dry conditions they can withstand temperatures around 0 °C), while those from lower altitudes can’t stand temperatures lower than 7-8 °C.
• Water your Wilcoxia regularly in Summer and Spring and less frequently in Winter.
• The best substrate is a mix for cacti and the fertilization should be more or less scarce according to the species.
• The growth rate depends very much on the species and so the need for repotting. We suggest to check the specific needs of your Wilcoxia species or to choose whether to repot it or not according to the size reached.

The reproduction takes place mostly by seed; some species, however, produce suckers that can be easily used as cuttings, if left drying for a couple of days before planting them in a humid, sandy substrate.