Hedgehog Cactus Flowers

Posted June 10, 2019 6:42 pm & filed under Cactus, Photography.

It’s some giant Echinocereus flowers! Hap thinks it’s E. enneacanthus. Maybe! It’s a very hardy cactus, growing in the upper reaches of New Mexico.

Orchid Cactus

Posted May 29, 2019 1:54 pm & filed under Cactus, Photography, Plants in Production.

A new Epiphyllum flower color!

Peach… Orange… Peach… Orange…

Nice.

Opuntia engelmanii

Posted May 26, 2019 3:01 pm & filed under Cactus, Photography.

Common Name: Cactus Apple
Origin: From California to Louisiana; Mexico

Shrubby, sprawling to 10ft., yellow to apricot blooms, edible fruit

Hardy to 15F
Full Sun to Part Sun
Low Water

Echinopsis grandiflora hybrids

Posted May 24, 2019 8:13 am & filed under Photography.

Yow the hybrids have gone bonkers. This Echinopsis hybrid is “Tropical Pink”, everyone’s favorite giant cactus flower that we have been growing and cultivating and growing more of for decades. So nice.

San Anselmo San Pedro Cactus

Posted May 22, 2019 6:16 pm & filed under Cactus, Marin.

It’s a landscape job and that’s Cris! Hard at work prepping the soil. Nice job, Cris.

Gasteria batesiana

Posted May 21, 2019 2:36 pm & filed under Photography.

Weird flowers, kind of bulbous, on your friendly local Gasterias. Fun!

String of Dolphins

Posted May 17, 2019 3:36 pm & filed under Nursery, Plants in Production.

Also known as Dolphins Necklace. It’s a cute little trailing succulent that is all the rage all of a sudden. First it was hot in Japan and now it is hot in the US too. I blame Instagram. We’ve posted it on instagram too, of course, because of course.

Senecio peregrinus
String of Dolphins
SW Africa

Fascinating little diving dolphin-shaped thick ovoid leaves leaping all over the long trailing stems. Rot-prone, keep dry. Bluish hue with more sun.
Characteristics:

Temperature: Hardy to 45F
Part Sun to Part Shade
Low Water

Monkey Hand Tree

Posted April 30, 2019 11:07 am & filed under California Native Plants, Photography.

X Chiranthofremontia

Common Name: Monkey Hand Tree

Origin: California

Hybrid: Chiranthodendron pentadactylon X Fremontodendron “Pacific Sunset”

Large, broad, showy intergenic hybrid. If provided space in a garden, this centerpiece plant will be covered in golden flowers in spring. No water once established.
Characteristics:

Temperature: Hardy to 25°F

Sun: Full Sun

Water: Low; Summer Drought

Size: 15ft. to 20ft.

Monkey Hand Tree

Posted April 30, 2019 11:07 am & filed under California Native Plants, Photography.

X Chiranthofremontia

Common Name: Monkey Hand Tree

Origin: California

Hybrid: Chiranthodendron pentadactylon X Fremontodendron “Pacific Sunset”

Large, broad, showy intergenic hybrid. If provided space in a garden, this centerpiece plant will be covered in golden flowers in spring. No water once established.
Characteristics:

Temperature: Hardy to 25°F

Sun: Full Sun

Water: Low; Summer Drought

Size: 15ft. to 20ft.

Epi Flowers

Posted April 23, 2019 9:30 am & filed under Cactus, Cactus Jungle, Photography.

We have a beautiful crop of mixed Epiphyllum in bloom, at the same time, at both stores! Berkeley? Yes! Marin? Sure!

Nice.

Epi Flowers

Posted April 23, 2019 9:30 am & filed under Cactus, Cactus Jungle, Photography.

We have a beautiful crop of mixed Epiphyllum in bloom, at the same time, at both stores! Berkeley? Yes! Marin? Sure!

Nice.

Cactus Flowers for Spring!

Posted April 19, 2019 7:34 am & filed under Cactus, Photography.

Echinopsis grandiflora “Tropical Pink” for the win! First out of the gate for giant Cactus flowers for spring. We have had some Rebutia flowers already, and of course Mammilaria too, but these are the winners.

Cactus Flowers for Spring!

Posted April 19, 2019 7:34 am & filed under Cactus, Photography.

Echinopsis grandiflora “Tropical Pink” for the win! First out of the gate for giant Cactus flowers for spring. We have had some Rebutia flowers already, and of course Mammilaria too, but these are the winners.

Ice Plants, Marin County

Posted April 18, 2019 1:14 pm & filed under Marin Succulents, Photography.

Peacock Drive, San Rafael

It’s a massive cluster of Delosperma in San Rafael. I think it’s Delosperma cooperi, but maybe a cultivar of cooperi like “Jewel of Desert Rosequartz”. Either way, it’s a little bit stunning.

Ice Plants, Marin County

Posted April 18, 2019 1:14 pm & filed under Marin Succulents, Photography.

Peacock Drive, San Rafael

It’s a massive cluster of Delosperma in San Rafael. I think it’s Delosperma cooperi, but maybe a cultivar of cooperi like “Jewel of Desert Rosequartz”. Either way, it’s a little bit stunning.

Are Saguaros Slow Growing?

Posted April 15, 2019 11:37 am & filed under National Parks.

Yes, they are slow-growing. Here, let’s check in with the National; Park Service:

It can take 10 years for a saguaro cactus to reach 1 inch in height. By 70 years of age, a saguaro cactus can reach 6 and a half feet tall, and will finally start to produce their first flowers. By 95-100 years in age, a saguaro cactus can reach a height of 15-16 feet, and could start to produce its first arm.

NPS Photo. Saguaro Cactus can grow to heights of 45 feet

Top Ten Lists

Posted April 12, 2019 9:03 am & filed under News.

Are we one of the top ten Garden centers in the Bay Area ? You decide…

The Top Rated Garden Centers and Nurseries in the Bay Area

McGuire Real Estate|

Gardening in the Bay Area can be an intimidating endeavor. In San Francisco alone, every neighborhood has its own microclimate. And that doesn’t even take into account the climates found on different sides of the Peninsula, across East Bay and into Marin County. So, how do you keep plants alive?

Well, you can start by asking the local experts, and some of these experts have been growing and cultivating here in the Bay Area since 1909! We rounded up some of our favorite garden centers and nurseries where you can find the perfect plants for your garden and your home. Happy planting!….

CACTUS JUNGLE | Berkeley + San Anselmo

1509 Fourth St, Berkeley + 130 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo | Facebook

Photo courtesy of Peter Lipson via Cactus Jungle

Cactus Jungle was founded in 2002… From their two locations—one in Berkeley and one in San Anselmo—they offer cacti and succulents, low-water grasses, summer-drought bamboos, California natives and more, which are grown both locally and around the world.

Top Ten Lists

Posted April 12, 2019 9:03 am & filed under News.

Are we one of the top ten Garden centers in the Bay Area ? You decide…

The Top Rated Garden Centers and Nurseries in the Bay Area

McGuire Real Estate|

Gardening in the Bay Area can be an intimidating endeavor. In San Francisco alone, every neighborhood has its own microclimate. And that doesn’t even take into account the climates found on different sides of the Peninsula, across East Bay and into Marin County. So, how do you keep plants alive?

Well, you can start by asking the local experts, and some of these experts have been growing and cultivating here in the Bay Area since 1909! We rounded up some of our favorite garden centers and nurseries where you can find the perfect plants for your garden and your home. Happy planting!….

CACTUS JUNGLE | Berkeley + San Anselmo

1509 Fourth St, Berkeley + 130 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo | Facebook

Photo courtesy of Peter Lipson via Cactus Jungle

Cactus Jungle was founded in 2002… From their two locations—one in Berkeley and one in San Anselmo—they offer cacti and succulents, low-water grasses, summer-drought bamboos, California natives and more, which are grown both locally and around the world.

Giant Yellow Cactus Flower

Posted April 10, 2019 3:32 pm & filed under Cactus, Photography.

Opuntia santa-rita “Tubac”

Common Name: Purple Prickly Pear
Origin: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas; Mexico

Large round pads covered in glochids, blue-grey in summer turn purple in cold. Yellow flowers.

Hardy to 15F

Full Sun to Part Shade

Low Water

Giant Yellow Cactus Flower

Posted April 10, 2019 3:32 pm & filed under Cactus, Photography.

Opuntia santa-rita “Tubac”

Common Name: Purple Prickly Pear
Origin: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas; Mexico

Large round pads covered in glochids, blue-grey in summer turn purple in cold. Yellow flowers.

Hardy to 15F

Full Sun to Part Shade

Low Water

Tuesday Marin Whippet Blogging

Posted April 9, 2019 3:42 pm & filed under Marin, Whippets.

It’s Jason at work at Cactus Jungle, Marin! Nice job, Jason.

Titanopsis

Posted April 2, 2019 11:59 am & filed under Photography.

Titanopsis calcareum is the knobbly little mesemb with the big dreams. They dream of living their best life in the city on a sunny windowsill in a small apartment where they can get the best care from you that your limited attention can give them. And nothing more! It’s enough!

Aloes in Bloom

Posted March 30, 2019 11:58 am & filed under Marin Succulents.

Aloe striatas in full bloom in San Rafael at the Loch Lomond Harbor turnaround.

Not Looking Good

Posted March 25, 2019 12:19 pm & filed under Questions.

Hello,

I noticed my cactus browning. It looks like it’s rotting. Please see picture below. Is it something serious? What should I do?

Thanks,
Sophiya

It’s hard for me to know what happened, but it looks like it might be a virus. Whatever it is, it has encircled the cactus which means it is not going to survive. Sorry about that.

Peter

Sunrise Pincushion

Posted March 15, 2019 2:59 pm & filed under Photography.

Leucospermum “Sunrise”
South Africa

Evergreen Shrub

Medium sized shrub with serrated leaves and red tips. Gorgeous multicolored pincushion flowers of salmon, yellow, orange, and red. Tolerates a wider range of soils than most Leucospermums.

Hardy to 25-30F
Full to Part Sun
Low Water
5-6ft

New Cactus Cutting Issues

Posted March 15, 2019 10:27 am & filed under Cactus, Questions.

Peter,
Thanks for replying in response to my email request. The subject cactus, which I was told by its owner Tyler is Trichocereus pacnoi monstrose. It has this callous on the cut end but it also has some yellowish spotting that I am concerned may be a virus. Tyler bought this specimen, along with a bridgesii cutting on eBay, and the first pic shows the plants right after they were unpacked. The other pics are closeups of the cactus of concern. Please reply to me and Tyler as to what actions need to be taken to try to salvage both plants, if that is possible. Thanks so much for responding to my request in a timely manner. Tyler just recently got involved with cactus growing and reached out to Texas A&M Extension to get help with his cacti. I was asked, as a Master Gardener, to try to help him, and I decided to reach out to some cactus experts so I do not send him off in the wrong direction.

David

David,
I don’t think there is any virus. I think the cactus is just less than perfect, which cactus often are. It may be some active fungus or rot from the shipping process. You can spray with an organic fungicide like Neem Oil or use a systemic like Infuse if you are worried. After you plant it in fresh fast-draining cactus soil and wait 2 weeks to water, if you see any spots start to grow then you might have an issue. If the spots have rings then it might be a virus. But I don’t see anything like that now.

Species name is Echinopsis pachanoi fa. monstrose.

Peter

Cactus in the Wet Winter Years

Posted March 11, 2019 9:39 am & filed under Questions.

Good day –

I have purchased things from you over the years & need a little help.

Please see in the attached photo our fallen Eve’s Pin (I think that is what it is??) that we have had for years & is huge! The soil was too wet with all this rain & It just toppled over.

Can I somehow put it back in the hole – really don’t know how I am going to pick it up – those thorns are plentiful and large!

I think it roots easily – or should I just take pieces of it off & try putting the back in the ground to see if it will root?
Any advice would be appreciated & thank you for your time.

Thank you – Kevin A

This is definitely because of the wet winter. You can see that the root ball on the Eve’s Needles, Austrocylindropuntia subulata, is very small so it couldn’t support the large cactus above. If you want to try to right it I recommend some bamboo stakes, making a bit of a cage, and tie it all together while it is on the ground, and then use some fabric pieces to wrap around for a handle hold to lift it up. You might want to get more cactus soil where it is and mound up and get as large an area of faster draining soil and then replant upright.

You can of course also take it apart and plant the cuttings, they will root easily.

In the future I would water less, or to be more speicific this gets enough water in winter that after the first summer you should never water it, so that it groiws a bit slower and doesn’t get top heavy.

Peter

Blooming Airplants

Posted March 4, 2019 5:35 pm & filed under Airplants, Photography.

Giant Airplants Specimen in Bloom

Tillandsia aeranthos hybrid

Portuguese Squill

Posted February 28, 2019 6:00 pm & filed under Photography.

Scilla peruviana is busting out in blooms all over.

Giant Scilla
Mediterranean

Deciduous Bulb

Summer dormant bulb in the Hyacinth family, in fall develops a compact rosette of 18″ long leaves. In spring, forms 6″-12″ tall flower stalks densely topped with numerous small lavendar flowers.

Temperature: Hardy to 10F

Sun: Full Sun