A violet body with depth
The epidermis shifts from green-purple to deep violet with exposure and season.
Sulcorebutia 'violacidermis' 6.5cm
Normal price
€6,50
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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.
Sulcorebutia 'violacidermis'
Do not judge the size. This one has seen serious altitude. 🏔️
- Cactaceae
- Violet to purple epidermis
- Flattened tubercled stems
- Dense clumping habit
- Collector colour form
Sulcorebutia 'violacidermis' resembles a miniature highland sculpture washed in deep violet: flattened stems are organised into geometric tubercles, while short radial spines draw fine lines across the dark surface. Dense form and unusual colour immediately command attention.
As additional heads appear, the miniature becomes a collector clump with compelling rhythm and pronounced three-dimensional texture. Vivid flowers open as bright contrast above the purple body, creating one of the most theatrical displays available from a small cactus.
What makes it stand out
Three defining details that turn its botanical identity into real presence for a collection and interior.
Geometry that multiplies
Every head repeats the tubercled pattern as the clump becomes increasingly complex.
Flowers in bold contrast
Vivid magenta to pink blooms open above the dark body and transform the entire display.
Why you’ll love it: it combines deep purple colour, highland collector identity and a clump that becomes more striking with every new growth.
In your spacePlacement & plant pairingsWhere it looks best and which plants complement it
Where it looks its best
Display it in shallow pale terracotta or off-white ceramic so the purple body stands out. Leave clear space around the clump and view it from above to reveal the repeating patterns.
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.
- Rebutia heliosa — golden radial texture with similar highland care.
- Gymnocalycium baldianum — dark body and vivid flowers at a comparable small scale.
- Haworthia bayeri — dark flattened rosette for a geometric display in a separate pot.
Care at a glance
Light
Very bright light and acclimated sun, with light protection in extreme heat.
Watering
Water deeply in growth only after complete drying; keep winter rest dry.
Highland cactus
Cool nights, strong airflow and a bright dry winter without frozen roots.
Pets & children
Short spines can injure and lodge in skin; handle with folded card or tongs.
For this plant
Substrate & nutrition
Detailed careComplete care guideLight, drying cycle, climate, substrate and feeding in detail
Light and position
Provide very intense brightness and several hours of sun after gradual acclimation. In extreme Mediterranean heat, favour morning exposure and moving air to maintain colour without overheating.
Correct watering
In spring and early-summer growth, water deeply after the mix is dry to the bottom. Reduce in extreme heat and keep it almost dry during winter rest.
Airflow and humidity
The dense clump needs airflow between heads and rapid drying around the crown. Avoid misting and enclosed positions combining high temperature with humidity.
Temperature and seasonal rhythm
Highland origin favours warm days but cooler nights. A bright, cold yet root-safe and dry winter supports compact form and the next flowering cycle.
Substrate
Use an exceptionally mineral mix with pumice, lava and coarse grit in a shallow pot that lets the clump spread. Keep the crown above the surface.
Feeding, repotting and handling
During visible spring growth, a very mild dose of Cactus & Succulent Focus used as directed is enough. Repot before buds begin and support the entire clump without pressure.
Botanical identityIdentity & natural originAccepted name, taxonomic history and natural or cultivated provenance
Sulcorebutia rauschii is a synonym
Kew treats Sulcorebutia rauschii Gerhart Frank as a synonym of the accepted Weingartia canigueralii (Cárdenas) F.H.Brandt.
Violacidermis is a horticultural colour designation
Forma violacidermis is used in cultivation for the deep-purple phenotype but is not retained as a separate accepted taxon by modern Kew taxonomy.
A Bolivian wild foundation
Accepted Weingartia canigueralii is native to Bolivia in desert or dry shrubland. The name rauschii was published in 1969 and commemorates Walter Rausch.
From natural habitat to care: Exposed Bolivian highlands combine strong radiation, cool nights, mineral root zones and a pronounced dry period. In a pot this calls for high light without summer overheating, immediate drainage and a genuinely dry winter rhythm.
Greenleaf for Plant NerdsScientific facts nobody asked forBotanical detail for anyone who wants to know what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Purple colour comes from pigments
Anthocyanins can intensify with exposure, coolness and controlled dryness, while the body becomes greener in milder conditions.
Ribs are divided into tubercles
Spiral tubercled organisation breaks continuous ribs into the characteristic geometric relief.
Offsets create a cushion
New heads arise at the base and share limited space, forming low cushions.
The group’s taxonomy has shifted
Sulcorebutia, Rebutia and Weingartia have repeatedly been recircumscribed, so trade and accepted names differ.
Frequently asked questions
Useful answers about light, watering, seasonal rhythm and the plant’s correct identity.
01What is the accepted botanical name?
Kew places Sulcorebutia rauschii within Weingartia canigueralii. The older name remains useful in collector trade.
02Will it remain purple?
Intensity changes naturally. Strong light, cool nights and season strengthen violet tones, while mild growth may bring more green.
03When does it need watering?
During growth, when the mix is completely dry. Reduce in extreme heat and keep it almost dry in winter.
04What light does it need?
Very bright light and acclimated sun. In extreme heat it needs morning exposure and strong airflow.
05What changes with the seasons?
It grows mainly from spring into early summer and rests dry in winter. Cool nights are beneficial.
06Do the spines need caution?
Yes. Though short, they can lodge in skin. Use folded card or tongs and keep it out of reach.
📦 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.