Sweet Little Urchin of a Cactus

If you garden in a non-arid part of the world, as I do, it takes a leap of faith to purchase a Cactus and trust that you can grow it well. But Cacti have been grown indoors for century upon century, and even if their needs seem unfamiliar at first, we can experience success in growing them. Choose a Cactus that has no spines—take Astrophytum asterias, for example—and you will be off to a great start when it comes to Cactus-growing.

A Star When It Comes to Looks

Astrophytum asterias is a good looking Cactus. Let’s just call it like it is: It’s a cutie. Astrophytum asterias is commonly known as the Sand Dollar Cactus, due to the supposed resemblance of its markings to the sand dollar. But although it sounds overly skeptical to say “supposed”, I do not in any way see a sand dollar when I look at the Cactus that has been given this name. I do, however, see another beloved sea creature, the sea urchin. And apparently I am not alone in finding a sea urchin resemblance, as Sea Urchin Cactus is another common name for this plant, and the one I prefer. 

Now, one should note that Astrophytum asterias does not look like living sea urchins so much as it looks like a sea urchin shell, known as a “test”. With spines no longer present, the skeletal “test” has a slight lumpy bumpy decoration and an appealing rounded shape. The roundness of this sea creature and its namesake Cactus is made interesting by its flattened base and creased demarcations that make it look as though strings have been placed around it, with equal spacing, and then tightened at the top to gather up the sphere.

This diminutive Cactus is perfectly acceptable to touch, with no prickly spines to avoid. To me, this makes it a fine Cactus to introduce to young gardeners who would love the look of an unusual plant but might not appreciate sore fingertips. Or what about an elder? Would this easy-going plant conjure up images of the ocean, or trips to arid locations where Cacti are common? The pleasure that would come from this plant might be lessened by encountering a prickly spine, but no worries... there are none. Let’s just call this a pleasant entry into the Cactus-growing world for a gardener of any age.

Endangered Status

Now, should cute Cacti such as Astrophytum asterias have any problems? Certainly not. But the Sea Urchin Cactus has not fared well in its native growing regions, found within Texas and Mexico. Urbanization and its related changes to habitat, environmental issues not least of which is pollution… These things and more have brought the Astrophytum asterias numbers to a dangerously low point, and this has been the case for about three decades. Back in 1993, the Sand Dollar Cactus was deemed Endangered and began to be monitored by U.S. Fish and Wildlife among other groups. Sadly, it remains with that same designation to this day.

So what does this mean? Well, if you are traveling and spy Astrophytum asterias growing in the wild, send out a few good thoughts and hope that things are “looking up”. And certainly do not remove the Cactus from the turf and relocate it to a different home. Choose your Astrophytum asterias from growers who have propagated the plant rather than “poached” it, and then take good care of your little urchin once you get it to your home. No, this will not help in getting Astrophytum asterias off the Endangered list. But it will increase overall knowledge of this Cactus, as you get to know your new plant and as others admire it. And that is worthwhile. It is worthwhile to know why protecting an Endangered species is wonderful, and why plants such as this require broadscale attention.

Groupings for An Attractive Display

With the overall shape of Astrophytum asterias being that of a round purse that sits flat and is drawn up at the top, the markings on the Sea Urchin Cactus really add to its appeal. Fuzzy dotted markings decorate the segmented near-sphere, with the nubby dots taking the place of spines which would be on some other Cacti. Colors can vary, and the dots all have their own certain style. To show off the variations, it is nice to group more than one of these Cacti in a display. A dish with a well-draining mix made just for Cacti need not have much depth. Ensuring good sun, infrequently watering only once the top layers of the potting mix dry out, and providing a little love… well, you’re on your way to turning some little urchins into absolute star plants… Star Cacti, in fact. Astrophytum asterias.