The rainbow pincushion is a small cactus usually ranging from in height. It usually grows in small clumps but can be solitary. The cactus's stem is a short
glabrous column that is covered with spikes. The entire plant body is covered with conical
tubercles, from which spines arise. Usually there are 15 to 18 spines in length growing from each tubercle. It has spikes that grow from the entire body; those on the bottom half of the cactus have white or gray and may appear to be dying. Also, a white wool that can be seen growing on the top part of the plant's body. The species flowers for very long periods of time, normally initially blooming in the spring and continuing to bloom until autumn. Its flowers are deep pink to purple in color. The cactus also produces orange-brown seeds.
M. rhodantha can endure temperatures down to ; it has frost tolerance.
Synonyms •
Mammillaria droegeana •
Mammillaria fuscata •
Mammillaria rhodantha var. droegeana •
Mammillaria calacantha •
Mammillaria pringlei •
Mammillaria bonavitii •
Cactus rhodanthus •
Neomammillaria rhodantha == Gardening ==