This solitary cactus is globose-elongated with greyish-green stem with indistinct ribs and conical tubercles. It has greyish needle-like spines and the pink funnel-shaped flowers appear singularly on top of a slightly depressed crown during midsummer.  

Hardiness zones 9 to 11

Thelocactus conothelos is naturally found in North America growing in arid regions of Mexico from Nevuo Leon to San Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas. It appears on limestone hills in the Chihuahuan Desert at an altitude from 1,200 m (3,937 ft) to 2,200 m (7,217 ft). It prefers am open to exposed sunny position and grows in very well drained, moderately fertile sandy-stony soil and is drought and light frost tolerant.

This cactus is grown for its flowers and its globular habit. It is planted in small or arid gardens as a specimen or used in sunny rockeries. It is also grown in pots and tubs as a glasshouse specimen or as an indoor plant. It is suitable fo inland and low-mountain regions and establishes in 3-5 years. ID 3734

Thelocactus (thel-oh-KAK-tus)   conothelos (kon-oh-THEL-os)

Cactaceae (kak-TAY-see-ee)