A dark colour palette
Deep green, brown and purple shift with light and season across the low body.
Gymnocalycium friedrichii 'Agua Dulce' 6.5cm
Normal price
€12,00
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Gymnocalycium friedrichii 'Agua Dulce'
A small dark cactus with white areoles and a far more serious attitude than its size 🌵
- Cactaceae
- LB 2178
- Agua Dulce
- Dark body
- Paraguayan provenance
Gymnocalycium friedrichii 'Agua Dulce' is a small, low-growing Paraguayan collector line with a deep green to brown-purple body, clear ribs and bright white areoles. The contrast is strict and graphic, like geometry drawn with very few elements.
LB 2178 is not a decorative name but a collection number linking the line with Agua Dulce in Alto Paraguay. That documented locality identity, combined with the dark palette and restrained spination, gives this compact cactus genuine collector value and far more history than its size suggests.
What makes it stand out
Three defining details that turn its botanical identity into real presence for a collection and interior.
White areoles in clear rows
Bright dots follow the ribs and emphasise the geometry.
A locality-based collector identity
The LB 2178 number preserves a link with a particular Paraguayan collection and place.
Why you’ll love it: it combines clean dark aesthetics with real geographic documentation — exactly the detail that makes a collection personal.
In your spacePlacement & plant pairingsWhere it looks best and which plants complement it
Where it looks its best
Display it close to eye level in very bright light, using pale grey or white ceramic to make the body appear even darker. Fine white grit echoes the areoles and keeps the composition precise.
Plants that complement it
Pair it with plants that genuinely share its light, substrate and seasonal rhythm. Separate pots keep care precise for each one.
- Gymnocalycium mihanovichii — related geometry with a different colour expression.
- Astrophytum myriostigma ‘Nudum’ — clean smooth surface beside the white areoles.
- Frailea castanea — a small dark globe with compatible collector character.
Care at a glance
Light
Very bright light with gentle direct sun, sheltered from extreme midday heat.
Watering
During warm growth after complete drying; drier in winter.
Seasonal rhythm
Warm growth, airflow and a bright cool winter rest without frost.
Pets & children
Spines may injure; keep it stable and out of reach.
For this plant
Substrate & nutrition
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, drying cycle, climate, substrate and feeding in detail
Light and position
Provide strong light and gentle morning or late-afternoon sun. Sudden exposure can scorch the dark body, especially after winter.
Correct watering
Water thoroughly during active warm growth only after the mix has dried completely. Keep roots much drier during the cool winter rest.
Airflow and humidity
Steady airflow around the low neck is important. Avoid misting and moisture that remains between the ribs.
Temperature and seasonal rhythm
It grows from spring into autumn and rests at lower temperatures. Protect it from frost and damp cold.
Substrate
Use a mineral cactus-and-succulent mix in a small pot with a clear drainage hole. Do not bury the neck under deep decorative grit.
Feeding, repotting and handling
With fresh Sybasoil, wait about two months. Then add diluted Cactus & Succulent Focus only while fresh growth is visible at the crown.
Botanical identityIdentity & natural originAccepted name, taxonomic history and natural or cultivated provenance
An accepted taxonomic basis
Kew treats Gymnocalycium friedrichii var. angustostriatum as a synonym of the accepted G. stenopleurum. “friedrichii” remains widespread in trade.
LB 2178 from Agua Dulce
Field number LB 2178 is linked with a collection from Agua Dulce in Alto Paraguay, Paraguay, and serves as a locality-line marker rather than a cultivar.
Provenance maintained in cultivation
Plants reliably carrying the number preserve the history of a particular population. No breeder is assigned because this is a collection marker, not a breeding result.
From natural habitat to care: The dry Chaco around Agua Dulce combines seasonal heat, strong light, airflow and intervals between rain. Its low body stores water and is often sheltered by open vegetation; in cultivation it needs strong but acclimated light, mineral drainage and a drier cool rest.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific facts nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
A field number is not a cultivar
LB 2178 records collector and population, not an aesthetic selection with a commercial breeder.
The bare floral tube gives the name
Gymnocalycium refers to a smooth floral tube without hairs or spines.
Ribs carry chin-like projections
Characteristic projections beneath the areoles interrupt each straight rib.
Dark colour is variable
Light, temperature and clonal variation shift the body from green towards brown-purple.
Frequently asked questions
Useful answers about light, watering, seasonal rhythm and the plant’s correct identity.
01Why does the name change from friedrichii to stenopleurum?
Historic treatments use “friedrichii”, while the current Kew backbone accepts G. stenopleurum.
02What does LB 2178 mean?
It is a collection number linking the line with Agua Dulce in Alto Paraguay.
03When should it be watered?
During the active warm season, after the entire mix dries. Much less often in winter.
04Why is it becoming greener?
Colour is influenced by light and season. Increase brightness gradually, not suddenly.
05Does it need harsh sun?
No. Very bright light with gentle direct sun is safer than extreme midday heat.
06When can it flower?
With maturity, strong light, active growth and a distinct winter rest without damp cold.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.