Pelecyphora vivipara, commonly known as hatchet cactus or peyote aselliformis, is a small, slow-growing cactus native to North America. Typically, it reaches up to 6 inches in height and forms clusters. The cactus is characterized by its dense covering of star-shaped arrays of white spines that resemble the scales of a pine cone. It produces pink to purple flowers in the spring, which are followed by green, club-shaped fruits. The hatchet cactus is adapted to rocky limestone soils and requires excellent drainage in cultivation.

The hatchet cactus is valued for its unique appearance and is often cultivated by cactus enthusiasts. It is suitable for rock gardens, container gardens, and as a specimen plant in xeriscapes. In cultivation, it requires minimal water, thrives in full sun to partial shade, and prefers a gritty, well-draining soil mix. Due to its rarity and specialized habitat, it is not commonly used in general landscape planting. The hatchet cactus is at risk in the wild due to habitat destruction and overcollection for the ornamental trade. It is listed as threatened in its native range, and cultivation should be done responsibly, preferably from nursery-grown stock to avoid impacting wild populations.CC BY-SA 4.0