Acourtia microcephala
Acourtia microcephala
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Acourtia microcephala is a plant of sub-arid areas of the temperate to subtropical zone of southwestern N. America. It can tolerate occasional temperatures down to about -10°c for short periods, so long as they are not too wet[1]. Requires a freely draining gritty soil, preferably of fairly low fertility, and a position in full sun[2]. Dislikes winter wet. Excess moisture, especially in the winter, is the main cause of death.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse in a gritty well-drained compost, and only just cover the seed. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, being careful not to over-water. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in the spring. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Acourtia+microcephala>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Native American Ethnobotany — Moerman. D. · Timber Press. Oregon. · 1998 · ISBN 0-88192-453-9 ↩︎Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
- [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [3]Flora of N. America — http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ ↩︎An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.