Astrophytum asterias 'Hanazono Kabuto'
Astrophytum asterias' 'Hanazono Kabuto is a selected cultivar of the sand-dollar cactus Astrophytum asterias, distinguished by extra areoles that develop non-uniformly across the body. In Japanese, hanazono means "flower garden," a name that evokes the way the plant's scattered white woolly areoles resemble a garden of tiny flowers strewn across the green body, rather than being confined to the neat central line of areoles seen on a wild-type kabuto.
Like many of the finest asterias forms, Hanazono Kabuto was refined by Japanese hobbyist growers, where the "kabuto" (helmet) lineages have been intensively selected for generations. It is a horticultural selection rather than a distinct botanical variety, and its care follows that of the parent species, Astrophytum asterias.
Description
Hanazono Kabuto shares the flattened, spineless, disc-shaped body of a typical asterias, usually divided into the classic eight ribs and dusted with the fine white flecking (trichome tufts) characteristic of the species. What sets it apart is the distribution of the areoles: instead of a single tidy row of woolly areoles running along the crest of each rib, a Hanazono plant develops additional areoles scattered irregularly across the rib faces. It is this proliferation of white woolly areoles across the green body that gives the plant its "flower garden" appearance.
The flowers themselves are those of the species — funnel-shaped and yellow with a red throat — and, as in ordinary asterias, they are borne at the crown near the growing point rather than from the scattered areoles on the flanks.
The trait varies in expression: some plants show only a light sprinkling of extra areoles, while heavily selected individuals are densely peppered with them. Hanazono is frequently combined with other selected traits — for example the snowy heavy-flecked look of 'Super Kabuto' — producing plants prized for both the density of their flecking and the profusion of areoles.
Cultivation
Grow Hanazono Kabuto exactly as you would the parent Astrophytum asterias: bright light with a little shade from the fiercest afternoon sun, a fast-draining mineral mix, and careful watering — water thoroughly, then let the mix dry out completely before the next drink, and keep the plant dry and cool through winter dormancy. It is intolerant of wet, cold conditions and should be kept above freezing.
As with the species, a mature specimen appreciates steady but modest feeding during the growing season. As with all flat asterias, good airflow and a gritty, sharply draining substrate are the best insurance against rot around the collar.
Propagation
Hanazono is usually propagated from seed, and the proliferating-areole trait is passed on with reasonable reliability from selected parent plants, though the strength of expression varies among seedlings. As with other choice asterias forms, growers sometimes use grafting onto a vigorous rootstock to speed up seedling growth and bring plants to flowering size sooner; established plants can then be grown on their own roots.
See also
- Astrophytum asterias — the parent species
- Astrophytum — the genus overview
- 'Super Kabuto' · Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed