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Melon cactus (Melocactus)
Mature plants are easily recognizable by their cephalium, a wool- and bristle-coated structure at the apex of the plant, containing a mass of areoles from which the small flowers grow. The fruits of melon cactus are pink and resemble the shape of pepper fruits. Melon cactus is a genus of cactus with about 30–40 species. They are native to Americas, with some species along the Andes down to southern Peru, and a concentration of species in northeastern Brazil. 
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Succulent
Key Facts About Melon cactus
Feedback
Attributes of Melon cactus
Plant Height
1 m
Spread
70 cm
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
20 - 41 ℃
Scientific Classification of Melon cactus
Phylum
Vascular plants
Class
Dicotyledons
Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies
Family
Cactuses
Genus
Melon cactus
Distribution of Melon cactus
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Distribution Map of Melon cactus
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Melon cactus
Feedback
The melon cactus, or 'Turk's Cap,' is a visually unique succulent demanding careful attention particularly regarding light, water, temperature, and soil. They thrive in bright, indirect light and a well-draining, mildly acidic to neutral soil. The melon cactus prefers a dry atmosphere and should be watered sparingly. Temperature-wise, these cacti are best suited to warm climates. Common challenges include pests like mealybugs and spider mites, and root rot from overwatering. Seasonal considerations include less watering in winter and monitoring closely during hotter months to prevent sunburn.
How to Water Melon cactus?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Melon cactus?
How to Plant Melon cactus?
Exploring the Melon cactus Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Turk's Cap
Turk's Cap (*Melocactus intortus*) is a cactus native to the West Indies. Turk's Cap is also known by the alternative Latin name *Melocactus broadwayi*. This species is considered moderately difficult to cultivate as a houseplant and is susceptible to root rot. The soil should be allowed to dry completely between waterings.
Turk's cap
Turk's cap (Melocactus salvadorensis) is a flowering cactus native to Brazil. In the wild, turk's cap grows near granite rocks in stony soils, and it is pollinated by hummingbirds. This species is endangered due to cattle ranching and illegal collection. Turk's cap is cultivated as a houseplant, but it is considered difficult to grow because it cannot live without water for very long. However, water also causes root rot, so a fine-tuned watering schedule is needed to keep this plant healthy.
Melocactus macracanthos
Melocactus macracanthos is a distinctive cactus with a bulbous, green body adorned with pronounced ribs and long, robust spines. Its most notable feature is the cephalium, a peculiar woolly growth at the top, from which pink flowers and later red fruits emerge. This adaptation helps melocactus macracanthos thrive in its arid habitats by facilitating efficient water usage and attracting pollinators.
Melocactus neryi
Melocactus neryi is a fascinating type of cacti that blooms charming pink flowers annually, transforming a prickly exterior into a delightful spectacle. What's truly captivating is its peculiar cephalium, a woolly concentration of spines that sprout alluring fruit, serving as a haven for various birds. Its notable resilience makes it a prized possession for rock garden enthusiasts.
Melocactus peruvianus
Melocactus peruvianus is a fascinating cactus with a spherical, ribbed green body crowned by a cephalium—a dense brush-like structure composed of wool and bristles. This distinctive feature, which develops as the plant ages, distinguishes melocactus peruvianus from its cousins and heralds maturity, signaling readiness to flower. Adapted to arid conditions, melocactus peruvianus's robust form minimizes water loss while maximizing water storage, a testament to its resilience in harsh Peruvian landscapes.
Melocactus curvispinus
Melocactus curvispinus is a spherical cactus with a characteristic thick, green body adorned by ridges lined with curved spines. Atop its dense structure, a woolly 'cephalium' develops, from which vibrant pink flowers emerge. This feature sets melocactus curvispinus apart as it matures, showcasing an adaptation for attracting pollinators in its arid natural habitat. The presence of the cephalium also indicates the cactus's readiness to produce fruit, enhancing its survival chances by facilitating seed dispersal.
Melocactus zehntneri
Melocactus zehntneri possesses a spherical, green body adorned with pronounced ribs and areoles from which sharp spines emerge. This cactus showcases its unique cephalium—a tuft of wool and bristles—when mature, which serves as a specialized structure for flower development. Native to arid climates, melocactus zehntneri's morphology is a testament to its adaptation for water conservation and survival in harsh environments.
Melocactus smithii
Melocactus smithii is recognizable by its spherical, green body adorned with dense, ribbed spines and a distinctive woolly cephalium crowning its top. This cephalium, unique to the genus, serves as a specialized structure for flowering. Adapted to arid environments, melocactus smithii utilizes its robust spines to collect moisture, illustrating a resilience fit for its dry, rocky habitats.
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Melon cactus
Melocactus
Mature plants are easily recognizable by their cephalium, a wool- and bristle-coated structure at the apex of the plant, containing a mass of areoles from which the small flowers grow. The fruits of melon cactus are pink and resemble the shape of pepper fruits. Melon cactus is a genus of cactus with about 30–40 species. They are native to Americas, with some species along the Andes down to southern Peru, and a concentration of species in northeastern Brazil.
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Succulent
Key Facts About Melon cactus
Feedback
Attributes of Melon cactus
Plant Height
1 m
Spread
70 cm
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
20 - 41 ℃
Scientific Classification of Melon cactus
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Dicotyledons Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies Family
Cactuses Genus
Melon cactus Distribution of Melon cactus
Feedback
Distribution Map of Melon cactus
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Melon cactus
Feedback
The melon cactus, or 'Turk's Cap,' is a visually unique succulent demanding careful attention particularly regarding light, water, temperature, and soil. They thrive in bright, indirect light and a well-draining, mildly acidic to neutral soil. The melon cactus prefers a dry atmosphere and should be watered sparingly. Temperature-wise, these cacti are best suited to warm climates. Common challenges include pests like mealybugs and spider mites, and root rot from overwatering. Seasonal considerations include less watering in winter and monitoring closely during hotter months to prevent sunburn.
How to Water Melon cactus?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Melon cactus?
How to Plant Melon cactus?
Exploring the Melon cactus Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Turk's Cap
Turk's Cap (*Melocactus intortus*) is a cactus native to the West Indies. Turk's Cap is also known by the alternative Latin name *Melocactus broadwayi*. This species is considered moderately difficult to cultivate as a houseplant and is susceptible to root rot. The soil should be allowed to dry completely between waterings.
Turk's cap
Turk's cap (Melocactus salvadorensis) is a flowering cactus native to Brazil. In the wild, turk's cap grows near granite rocks in stony soils, and it is pollinated by hummingbirds. This species is endangered due to cattle ranching and illegal collection. Turk's cap is cultivated as a houseplant, but it is considered difficult to grow because it cannot live without water for very long. However, water also causes root rot, so a fine-tuned watering schedule is needed to keep this plant healthy.
Melocactus macracanthos
Melocactus macracanthos is a distinctive cactus with a bulbous, green body adorned with pronounced ribs and long, robust spines. Its most notable feature is the cephalium, a peculiar woolly growth at the top, from which pink flowers and later red fruits emerge. This adaptation helps melocactus macracanthos thrive in its arid habitats by facilitating efficient water usage and attracting pollinators.
Melocactus neryi
Melocactus neryi is a fascinating type of cacti that blooms charming pink flowers annually, transforming a prickly exterior into a delightful spectacle. What's truly captivating is its peculiar cephalium, a woolly concentration of spines that sprout alluring fruit, serving as a haven for various birds. Its notable resilience makes it a prized possession for rock garden enthusiasts.
Show More Species
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
