07/15/2026
The Mystery of String-Petal Lobivia Hybrids
There’s something magical about the narrow, star-shaped blooms of string-petal Lobivia. They are truely a burst of vivid colors in red, pink, orange, yellow, or white that stops you in your tracks.
I’ve been searching for the origin of these flowers, but the answer remains a horticultural mystery. The only two cultivars cited in literature are the yellow Lobivia ‘Stern von Lorsch’ and the orange-red Lobivia ‘Stern von Emsbach’. Both are documented as mutant forms of Lobivia densispina.
Despite this, I suspect a more complex background. The slender petals reminds me of Lobivia arachnacantha and Chamaecereus, which naturally bear narrow petals. Without breeding records, it may be plausible that some lines are hybrids involving other species.
Commercially, these plants are sold under a common label- Lobivia ‘Shinshowa’. However, “Shinshowa” is actually a name first given to a string-petaled Astrophytum asterias cultivar created in Japan, likely 1970s to 1980s is the most logical window. It is a timestamp to show the product is of the Showa era’s horticultural passion. Over time, “Shinshowa” became a generic catch-all for any cactus with similar narrow, starry blooms, regardless of genus.
There are other poetic names like “starfire,” or “fireworks” being used for these interesting Lobivia hybrids, leaving the true connection to their original horticultural creation as mysterious as their parentage...
