Cactus Blog 

Aeonium lindleyi

Small selection of close in photos.

Opuntia microdasys “Aurea”

Dotted with tiny glochids, mounding small pads to 3ft.
Hardy to 20F

Hey there, guys…
Sorry to bother you, but does the tagged specimen look like a positive id for Eriosyce occulta? The tag says that but it looks like more a copiapoa to me.

The untagged one looks like an eriosyce, too, perhaps?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again!
Joey

Joey,

It’s not a Copiapoa. It’s probably an Eriosyce that has been greenhouse grown. The spines at top are black, and you can look for a taproot when you replant it. Or wait until it flowers for a final ID. There are others it could be like a Coryphantha, but it would be a rare Coryphantha with black spines, so it is most likely the Eriosyce.

I don’t know the untagged one, but I don’t think it is E. occulta. I’ll post it to the blog, but you may have to wait until it flowers – send us a picture when it does!

Peter

Benjamin begs for food from Keith and gets a chip.

The new giant Palo Verdes, they’re the spineless “Desert Museum” variety, take over at the nursery. You can’t see the store anymore!

Opuntia “Maverick” on 10th St in Berkeley.

Sarracenia leucophylla “Tarnok”
Native to U.S. Gulf Coast
Perennial Carnivore
Sun: Moderate to Full Sun
Water: Bog
Size: 2 to 3 ft. tall
White hood with green and red veins is pointed and covers most of the opening. Grows in upright clumps. Large red flower sprays spring/summer.

New terrarium glass arrived today! This case seems a little smooshed. I wonder if it all got broke? Uh oh.

On the new baby Pachypodium! Sweet!
 

Pachypodium horombense
(Pachypodium rosulatum v. horombense)
 
 Large varied caudex, irregular, freely branched

  Hardy to 35F if dry
  Sun
  Cactus Soil
  Low Water

It’s Anne’s latest mixed succulent pot. Echeverias in hypertufa? You bet! Very colorful and modern. Practically Moderne. Nice!

Opuntia robusta

Tall, fast growing blue prickly pear with large round pads
 
 Hardy to 20F 
 Sun
Cactus Soil
Low Water
 

Here’s a photo of my Aloe plicatilis. I don’t think it’s going to survive.

Kim

Kim,

That Aloe has already not survived. Sorry.

Peter

Mimulus “Jelly Bean Terra Cotta”
 
California Hybrid
Evergreen Perennial

Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Low
Size: Shrub to 2ft.

Deep reddish-orange flowers will bloom year round.  Deer resistant.  Hardy to about 20°F.

Mimulus aurantiacus
 
California Native
Evergreen Perennial

Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Low
Size: Shrub to 3ft.

Commonly found growing wild on California hillsides. Orange flowers appear sporadically throughout the year. Much more drought tolerant than other mimulus. Deer resistant. Hardy to 25°F.

Mangave “Bloodspot”
 
Agave x Manfreda hybrid from Mexico. 15″ across
 
Hardy to 28F 
Full Sun
Cactus Soil
Low Water

I wonder who came up with the idea of combining a Manfreda name and an Agave name into such a hybrid name as Mangave. Stunning display of horticultural hubris.
 
I like it!

Don’t do this. Don’t paint your cactus.

This one came to us with the name Echeveria “Red Velvet” but it looks identical to E. “pulv-Oliver”. Now what?

Echeveria “Perle von Nurnberg”
 
6″ rosettes w/cupped purple leaves
 
Hardy to 25F 
Full Sun to Part Sun
Cactus Soil
Low Water

Echeveria “Afterglow”
 
Rosettes to 24″, powdery Lavender leaves best in full sun.

Hardy to 25F 
Sun
Cactus Soil
Low Water

A nice grouping of carnivorous plants for you. Today we have:

a Sundew

a blooming Sarracenia

and a lovely green Nepenthes too.

2 Whippets;1 bed

Agave parrasana
 
Dense, clumping rosettes to 24″; Best in full sun.
 
  Hardy to 15F 
  Full Sun to Part Sun
  Cactus Soil
  Low Water

This plant is not actually from Big Bend NP, but is a cultivar called Big Bend. The species is actually from Mexico and is called more commonly called the Cabbage Head Agave. Interesting!

Coryphantha delaetiana – Beehive Cactus
 
3″ across, solitary. Rhomboid tubercles. Pale yellow flowers.
  Hardy to 25F 
  Full Sun to Part Sun
  Cactus Soil
  Low Water

Hap,

Thanks for your help this Saturday! we are thrilled with the result.

Best,
Michael

Nova Scotia calling. Hey guys, great website.

I wonder if you can identify this succulent a friend gave me. He got it in Italy and I am at a complete loss.

When he first sent a photo of it I thought it was an Aichryson or Aeonium.

When I got a piece I think maybe not, maybe an Echeveria hybrid???:

Hope you can help.

Will make a point to visit the nursery this winter.

Thanks

john

john,

That looks like a Sedum palmeri

Peter

Agave parryi v truncata is also one of the mezcal agaves, a true blue Agave. But it’s perfect tight round spiny shape allows for its Artichoke Agave fame and fortune. Very attractive!

It will get 3 feet across, and almost as tall, before spreading rapidly in a giant clump of rosettes.

Jaxx and Amica are visiting, so it’s all good.