XFerobergia
×Ferobergia is a man-made intergeneric hybrid between the agave-like Leuchtenbergia principis and various barrel cacti of the genus Ferocactus. These crosses aim to marry the long, finger-like tubercles of Leuchtenbergia with the stout, brightly coloured spines of Ferocactus, producing plants that look like nothing quite found in the wild. The multiplication sign "×" in the name marks it as a hybrid genus (a "nothogenus") rather than a natural one.
What these hybrids are
Leuchtenbergia and Ferocactus are close enough relatives to cross, and hobbyist breeders have made the pairing repeatedly. Because it is a nothogenus, "×Ferobergia" is not a single species but a catch-all name for any Leuchtenbergia × Ferocactus cross, so no two seed batches are quite alike.
Most plants take Leuchtenbergia principis as one parent, since it is the only species in its genus, and pair it with one of several Ferocactus species. Different Ferocactus parents push the offspring toward different spine colours and body forms.
Appearance
In the best plants the two parents blend visibly. The body carries the elongated, angular tubercles inherited from Leuchtenbergia, but they are usually shorter, stouter and more tightly packed than in the pure agave cactus. From the areoles at the tubercle tips come spines that are firmer, thicker and more colourful than Leuchtenbergia's papery, straw-like ones — often flushed red or amber in the manner of a young Ferocactus.
The balance of traits varies enormously from plant to plant: some lean strongly toward the long-tubercled Leuchtenbergia look, others toward a chunkier, more heavily armed barrel. This variability is a large part of the hybrid's appeal to collectors, who select seedlings for the most striking combinations.
Cultivation
Care is essentially the same as for the parent genera: a bright position, a very free-draining, mostly mineral mix, and cautious watering with a full dry-out between drinks and a dry winter rest. Both parent genera come from arid parts of Mexico and the southwestern United States and dislike sitting wet, so overwatering and heavy soils are the usual causes of loss. See Repotting and Pests and diseases for general technique and trouble-shooting.
Like their parents, these hybrids are slow-growing and are typically raised from seed; the resulting seedlings are sometimes grafted onto a vigorous rootstock to speed them along before being grown on their own roots. Watch for the same pests that trouble other desert cacti, chiefly mealybugs and spider mites.
See also
- Leuchtenbergia principis — the long-tubercled parent
- Ferocactus — the barrel-cactus parent genus
- Grafting · Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation — seed