Origin and Habitat: Garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

• Echinocactus texensis cv. Kyoushi Anayami
• Homalocephala texensis cv. Curlyspine
• Homalocephala texensis cv. Kyoushi Anayami

• Echinocactus texensis Hopffer ex Regel
• Echinocactus lindheimeri Engelm. & A.Gray
• Homalocephala texensis (Hopffer ex Regel) Britton & Rose
• Echinocactus texensis var. gourgensii Cels ex Labour.
• Homalocephala texensis var. gourgensii (Cels ex Labour.) Y.Itô
• Echinocactus texensis var. longispinus Schelle
• Echinocactus texensis f. longispinus Schelle
• Echinocactus texensis var. treculianus Förster

• Echinocactus texensis f. cristata hort.
• Homalocephala texensis f. cristata hort.

• Echinocactus texensis f. cristatus variegatus hort.
• Homalocephala texensis f. cristata variegata hort.

• Echinocactus texensis cv. Anayami Monstr
• Echinocactus texensis f. montruosa hort.
• Homalocephala texensis f. monstruosa hort.
• Homalocephala texensis cv. Anayami Monstr
• Echinocactus texensis cv. Kyoushi Anayami
• Homalocephala texensis cv. Curlyspine
• Homalocephala texensis cv. Kyoushi Anayami
• Echinocactus texensis cv. Togenasi Ayanami
• Echinocactus texensis f. inermis hort.
• Homalocephala texensis f. inermis hort.
• Homalocephala texensis cv. Togenasi Ayanami

Description: The typical Echinocactus texensisSN|2231]]SN|2231]] (also known as the "Horse-crippler Cactus") is a
stout barrel cactus with small but strong spines. The japanese cultivar "Kyoushi Anayami" (a.k.a. cv. Kyoshi Anayami, cv. Kuruitoge Anayami or cv. Curlyspine) differs from the standard species for the twisted spines that looks like odd spiders. With the exception of the spines, all the other characteristics are absolutely identical, namely size and form of stem, ribs, flowers and fruit. By the way "Ayanami" is just Japanese name of texensis, which means twilled waves.
The standard form is very popular and widely grown, while the beautiful twisted spined variant is still rare in cactus collection. This plant can also get very big making a spectacular specimen.

Cultivation and Propagation: Echinocactus texensisSN|2231]]SN|2231]] is a summer grower species easy to cultivate, more cold tolerant than most. It flowers easily, but results will depend on a variety of growing conditions.
Growth rate: It is a slow growing and easily flowering species.
Soils: It likes very porous standard cactus mix soil, but can become too elongated if compost is too rich.
Repotting: This variety stores water in the parts of the plant which are above the soil leaving the root system small enough to fit into a proportionally sized flower pot. Use pot with good drainage.
Watering: Water regularly from Spring to Autumn, but do not overwater (Rot prone), keep dry in winter.
Fertilization: Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer.
Hardiness: It does well with cool winter time temperatures and will tolerate temperatures down below -18°C or less if the roots are kept dry.
Exposition: It will do its best with lots of sun, it becomes stressed with inadequate light which could result in weak spines, poor health or even death.
Uses: It is an excellent plant for container growing. It always looks good and stays small. It look fine in a cold greenhouse and frame or outdoor in a rockery.
Pests & diseases: It may be attractive to a variety of insects, but plants in good condition should be nearly pest-free, particularly if they are grown in a mineral potting-mix, with good exposure and ventilation. Nonetheless, there are several pests to watch for:
- Red spiders: Red spiders may be effectively rubbed up by watering the infested plants from above.
- Mealy bugs: Mealy bugs occasionally develop aerial into the new growth among the wool with disfiguring results, but the worst types develop underground on the roots and are invisible except by their effects.
- Sciara Flies: Sciara flies are one of the major problems for seedlings. It is a good practice to mulch your seedlings with a layer of grit, which will strongly discourage the flies.
- Scales: Scales are rarely a problem.
- Rot: Rot is only a minor problem with cacti if the plants are watered and “aired” correctly. If they are not, fungicides won't help all that much.
Propagation: From seed, since the plant rarely produces plantlets. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at 21-27° C in spring, remove gradually the glass cover as soon the plants will be well rooted (ca 1-2 weeks) and keep ventilated, no full sun for young plants!