From the states of Coahuila and Durango, Mexico, Thelocactus heterochromus is a solitary globular cacti to 3 inches high and 6 inches across. It is heavily armed with colorful amber to reddish spines. Not satisfied to have some of the prettiest spination of any cactus it also produces huge vivid purple flowers with a reddish throats in spring and summer.
     I have one of these in the garden that is almost 6 inches across. It immediately caught my eye because of an interesting anamoly in the new growth spines. The centrals seem to be not one but two spines fused together. It will be interesting to see if this growth pattern continues. Early spring it gave me one flower that barely crept past the spiny center and opened. Then it popped a nicer one in June. Later I caught both plants flowering at once. Click below for more pictures.

Interesting spines

First flower

June flower

Both plants flowering