Mammillaria marksiana is well known in collections, and is perhaps one of the prettier of plants, its bright yellow flowers contrasting nicely with the vivid green of the plant body

It is one of the plants currently being reviewed by our Guest speaker at the Oxford Show on the 13th July, along with others from the lindsayi/bocensis/sonorensis group of species.

It comes from the states of Sinaloa and Durango, and whilst somewhat slow growing it isn't especially difficult to grow successfully, and to be rewarded with its flowers in May or June here in the UK.

Its spination is a little variable, some plants having rather heavier spines than the plant shown above. The typically 8-10 thin yellow spines are golden yellow, as is the central spine, emerging in mature plants and perhaps a little longer than the radials at about 12mm.