BellinaHow to Say It | Myrtillocactus geometrizans cv. Fukurokuryuzinboku
The Boobie Cactus a rare cultivar of Myrtillocactus geometrizans cv. Fukurokuryuzinboku.
Say it with me — “Mir-tee-lo-cactus jee-oh-meh-tri-zans Foo-koo-ro-koo-ryoo-zin-bo-koo.”
is one of those trendy plants you see everywhere and you cannot help but wonder what the hype is all about. With trend always comes demand, and with demand comes price. These plants are often priced higher than your average cactus, and like many collectors I found myself asking, is it really worth it?
For a long time I admired them from afar until one December when Crystal Star held a customer appreciation event at the Toronto Botanical Gardens. During the sale a few plants were offered at a discount and that was my moment. I finally picked up a Boobie Cactus of my own and brought it home, still a little skeptical of whether I had just bought into the hype.
Over the years of growing it I have discovered the answer. Yes, it is worth it. This cactus has been one of the easiest and most rewarding plants in my collection. It is low maintenance, asking for almost nothing in return except a bright spot and the occasional drink of water when the soil is dry. It does not pout in the winter months, and it does not stall in the heat of summer. Instead it just quietly grows, steady and dependable.
Mine is potted in a mixed arrangement with other succulents and cacti I have collected over the years. Together they form a beautiful display, but the Boobie Cactus has grown so large and so majestic that I often catch myself wondering if it deserves a pot of its own. Perhaps one day I will come across the perfect pot, the one that seems to say “this is it.” Until then it continues to thrive where it is, a true centerpiece and proof that sometimes the hype really is worth it.
