Soil

Acanthocereus tetragonus

Family: Cactaceae

Tropical cactus with long segmented three sided branches, has a sprawling/climbing habit. Night-blooming

Habitat:
Found throughout tropical Central America, the Caribbean, and southern Florida. This plant tends to grow among the branches of larger shrubs and trees where it stems are supported by the surrounding plant growth.

Cultivation:
Well suited to a hanging basket pot, or a vine cage. Should be planted in a well draining media. Can handle ample water in summer, but should be allowed to dry out for long periods during the cold winter months.

Adenia glauca

Family: Passifloraceae

This plant is a large green stem caudex with taproot that can reach upwards of 2 feet in diameter. It produces long stiff vining stems during active growth, with deciduous palmately lobed leaves. Dioecious with separate male and female plants

Habitat:
Grows on rocky cliffs in north eastern South Africa (Transvaal), often found growing out of cracks between large boulders.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. Vines can be cut back in the fall to prepare for dormancy. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

Adenia spinosa

Family: Passifloraceae

Caudex to 8ft, with stiff vining stems bearing long relatively dull spines which are derived from petioles of the old leaves. Dioecious with separate male and female plants

Habitat:
Found from Limpopo Province in East South Africa to Botswana and Zimbabwe growing in scrublands and spars grasslands, often under the canopy of larger trees or shrubs.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. Vines can be cut back in the fall to prepare for dormancy. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice). Caudex prefers to be shaded, while the Vinings stems like full sun.

Adenia venenata

Family: Passifloraceae

Green Tree-like caudiciform up to 2 feet in diameter and 10 feet tall. Produces long vining green stems with deciduous Palmate leaves. Dioecious with separate male and female plants

Habitat:
This plant is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa ranging all the way from Northern Nigeria to Yemen. It is found growing in a wide variety of soils and biom types, often near trees which it grows up using its long Vining branches.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. Vines can be cut back in the fall to prepare for dormancy. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice).

Adenia volkensii

Family: Passifloraceae

This plant grows to be a small shrub in habitat with modeled red and green stems and deciduous palmate leaves. The plant has large tuberous roots that form a gnarly caudex, which can be raised above the ground for display. Dioecious with separate male and female plants

Habitat:
Widespread in East Africa, typically occurring in forested scrub land where it grows under the shade of larger plants.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The root caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice). It is best to keep the caudex buried until it reaches a satisfactory size. Once exposed the growth rate of the caudex is slowed dramatically, if not halted completely.

Adenium arabicum

Family: Apocynaceae

A large above ground caudiciform plant producing a thickened trunk up to 6 feet in diameter. Plant has 2 to 3 inch long oval, slightly pubescent leaves, and 1 to 2 inch wide flowers with fading light pink petals and a yellow to cream colored center.

Habitat:
Native to the Arabian peninsula from Western Saudi Arabia to eastern Yemen where it grows between Granite rocks and along granite cliff faces. It is an extremely arid species and can handle long droughts.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

A note on nomenclature:
Due to precedence, the accepted name for Adenium arabicum is Adenium obesum, however, this is the same name that was given to a genetically and visibly distinctive species originating from eastern Tanzania. This nomenclatural error (which is not resolved) has resulted in much confusion in the botanical community. Due to this, the majority of plants sold under these names are most likely hybrids between the two species.

Adenium arabicum “Shada”

Family: Apocynaceae

This plant is a compact dwarf cultivar of Adenium arabicum: A large above ground caudiciform plant producing a thickened trunk up to 6 feet in diameter. Plant has 2 to 3 inch long oval, slightly pubescent leaves, and one to 2 inch wide flowers with fading light pink petals and a yellow to cream colored center.

Habitat:
Adenium arabicum is native to the Arabian peninsula from Western Saudi Arabia to eastern Yemen where it grows between Granite rocks and along granite cliff faces. It is an extremely arid species and can handle long droughts.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

Adenium obesum

Family: Apocynaceae

A large mostly subterranean caudiciform plant up to 3 feet in diameter. Plant has 2 to 3 inch long truncate glabrous leaves, and 2 to 3 inch wide pink flowers.

Habitat:
Found from north eastern Mozambique to southern Kenya, this plant grows in dry scrub land, often among grasses and small shrubs

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

A note on nomenclature:
This plant should not be confused with the Arabian Adenium obesum, often referred to as Adenium arabicum, which is a genetically and visibly distinctive species. This nomenclatural error (which is not resolved) has resulted in much confusion in the botanical community. Due to this, the majority of plants sold under these names are most likely hybrids between the two species.

Adenium obesum “Chubby Tubby”

Family: Apocynaceae

A beautiful cultivar with an extra fat caudex and stubby stems! This is most likely a hybrid between Adenium obesum, and Adenium arabicum having the squatter form of arabicum, and the larger flowers of obesum.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

Adenium obesum “Picotee”

Family: Apocynaceae

A hybrid Adenium cultivar originating in Thailand with stunning white and vibrant pink-edged flowers. Will grow large irregular caudex.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

Adenium obesum “Pink Picotee”

Family: Apocynaceae

A seed-grown hybrid cultivar originating in Thailand with stunning light pink flowers with vibrant hot pink edges. Will grow large irregular caudex.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

Adenium socotranum

Family: Apocynaceae

This is the largest species of Adenium, reaching up to 8 feet in diameter and 15 feet tall in habitat. Plants have 2 to 3 inch long dark green glabrous leaves with a cream colored midrib, and 2 inch wide flowers that fade from dark pink to almost white with age.

Habitat:
Endemic to the island of Socotra where it is wide spread and prolific. The plants grow as a partial lithophyte, growing on and among limestone and Granite boulders. In habitat the plant experiences two rainy seasons one in December and one from March to June, the island is dry the rest of the year.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks starting in March and ending in June, keep dry the rest of the year. This plant is rare and relatively difficult to grow well in cultivation. It tends to grow extremely slowly/irregularly in comparison with habitat plants

Adenium somalense

Family: Apocynaceae

This plant produces a subterranean roughly spherical shaped caudex up to 2 feet in diameter. Plant has 2 to 3 inch long Lanceolate glabrous leaves, and 2 to 3 inch pink flowers.

Habitat:
Found in Somalia, Kenya, and southern Ethiopia. This plant grows in dry scrub land, often among grasses and small shrubs

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

Adenium swazicum

Family: Apocynaceae

This plant produces a subterranean roughly spherical shaped caudex up to 2 feet in diameter. Plant has 2 to 3 inch long Lanceolate slightly pubescent leaves, and 2 to 3 inch dark pink flowers.

Habitat:
Restricted to a small country known as Eswatini (Swaziland) in northeastern South Africa. This plant grows in dry scrub land, often among grasses and small shrubs

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

Adromischus “Hummel’s White”

Family: Crassulaceae

This hybrid cultivar is a small plant with thick squat branches, and lightly spotted roughly cylindrical succulent white leaves. Large plants can produce a very fat succulent base that could be considered a caudex.

Cultivation:
This is a relatively slow growing plant that does well outdoors in full to part sun, and planted in extremely well draining media. It can receive water throughout the year and should be watered about once every 2 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out between waterings.

Adromischus cristatus

Synonym: Cotyledon cristata
Family: Crassulaceae

Small plant with thick squat branches, and succulent tapered leaves with a truncate wavy end. Large plants can produce a very fat succulent base that could be considered a caudex.

Habitat:
Endemic to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, where it is found growing smashed between rock crevices.

Cultivation:
This is a relatively slow growing plant that does well outdoors if protected from excessive winter rain. It is from a summer rainfall region so it should be watered every 1 to 2 weeks from March through October, and kept dryer in the winter. Plant in a well draining cactus and succulent media.

Adromischus filicaulis

Synonym: Cotyledon filicaulis
Family: Crassulaceae

Small plant with thick squat branches, and succulent oblong spotted leaves. Large plants can produce a very fat succulent base that could be considered a caudex.

Habitat:
Found in the Richtersveld of South Africa, growing among weathered granite exposed to the harsh sun.

Cultivation:
This is a relatively slow growing plant that does well outdoors in full sun, and planted in extremely well draining inorganic media. It is from a transitionary rainfall region so it should receive moderate water throughout the year (about once every one to two weeks in the summer, and less in the winter) always being allowed to dry out completely between waterings.

Adromischus maculatus

Synonym: Cotyledon maculatus
Family: Crassulaceae

Small plant with thick squat branches, and flat round succulent leaves with dense red spotting towards the tops. Large plants can produce a very fat succulent base that could be considered a caudex.

Habitat:
Found in the Langeberg Mountains of Cape Province, South Africa, growing in rock crevices on cliff faces, usually at high altitudes.

Cultivation:
This is a relatively slow growing plant that does well outdoors in part sun, and planted in extremely well draining media. It is from a winter rainfall region, but can receive water throughout the year in cultivation. Should be watered about once every 2 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out between waterings.

Adromischus marianae fa. herrei

Synonym: A. marianae var. immaculatus
Family: Crassulaceae

Small plant with thick squat branches, and extremely unique lumpy red leaves. Large plants can produce a very fat succulent base that could be considered a caudex.

Habitat:
Found in Little Namaqualand, South Africa, growing between granite rocks.

Cultivation:
This is a relatively slow growing plant that does well outdoors in part sun. This plant is extremely rot prone without adequate air circulation, and should be planted in extremely well draining mostly inorganic media. It is from a winter rainfall region, but can receive water throughout the year in cultivation. Should be watered about once every 2 to 3 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

Aechmea recurvata

2ft. terrestrial bromeliad will form large clusters. Stiff yellow-green leaves, small marginal teeth, pinkish bloom stalks.

Aechmea “Orangeade”

Long curving orange leaves. Vigorous clumper. Red and yellow flower stalks emerge from center plant when mature. Frost sensitive.

Aeonium “Ballerina”

Family: Crassulaceae

Red-tipped leaves in sunny locations, green in shade, with multiple 8″ rosettes forming a low mound. Great as a ground cover. Yellow flowers in early spring.

This plant is a possible hybrid selection of A. glutinosum and A. canariense

Cultivation:
Does well outdoors in the bay area as a potted plant or landscape specimen. Plant in well draining media. This plant is from a winter rainfall region, but can receive water throughout the year in cultivation. Should be watered about once every 2 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out between waterings. This plant does not like extreme heat and can fry if the temperatures rise above 100°F for long periods. Aeoniums are monocarpic so branches die back after flowering, but plants will generally re-branch from lower stems.

Aeonium “Berry Nice”

A. decorum “Berry Nice”

Family: Crassulaceae

Small Aeonium that forms full mounds of 4″ rosettes. Colorful leaves with red edges and central stripe.

Habitat:
This is a nursery produced cultivar of A. decorum which is originally from the Canary Islands

Cultivation:
Does well outdoors in the bay area as a potted plant or landscape specimen. Plant in well draining media. This plant is from a winter rainfall region, but can receive water throughout the year in cultivation. Should be watered about once every 2 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out between waterings. This plant does not like extreme heat and can fry if the temperatures rise above 100°F for long periods. Aeoniums are monocarpic so branches die back after flowering, but plants will generally re-branch from lower stems.

Aeonium “Blushing Beauty”

A. canariense x A. arboreum

Family: Crassulaceae

Medium Aeonium up to 3ft that forms Dense clumps of green rosettes with a blush color spreading from the edges to the center with more sun. Yellow flowers.

Origin:
This is a cultivar hybrid of A. canariense and A. arboreum originally produced by Jack Catlin in 1976

Cultivation:
Does well outdoors in the bay area as a potted plant or landscape specimen. Plant in well draining media. This plant is from a winter rainfall region, but can receive water throughout the year in cultivation. Should be watered about once every 2 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out between waterings. This plant does not like extreme heat and can fry if the temperatures rise above 100°F for long periods. Aeoniums are monocarpic so branches die back after flowering, but plants will generally re-branch from lower stems.

Aeonium “Carol”

Family: Crassulaceae

Medium Aeonium up to 3ft that has thick slightly wavy succulent green leaves forming Broad 18″ rosettes

Origin:
This is a hybrid of Aeonium canariense that was discovered in Santa Barbara.

Cultivation:
Does well outdoors in the bay area as a potted plant or landscape specimen. Plant in well draining media. This plant is from a winter rainfall region, but can receive water throughout the year in cultivation. Should be watered about once every 2 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out between waterings. This plant does not like extreme heat and can fry if the temperatures rise above 100°F for long periods. Aeoniums are monocarpic so branches die back after flowering, but plants will generally re-branch from lower stems.

Aeonium “Catlin”

Family: Crassulaceae

This is a medium sized Aeonium growing to approximately 3 feet with many branches. Leaves are green with red edges under intense light, can become slightly more green in shaded conditions.

This is a hybrid of A. tabuliforme and A. “Zwartkop”

Cultivation:
Does well outdoors in the bay area as a potted plant or landscape specimen. Plant in well draining media. This plant is from a winter rainfall region, but can receive water throughout the year in cultivation. Should be watered about once every 2 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out between waterings. This plant does not like extreme heat and can fry if the temperatures rise above 100°F for long periods. Aeoniums are monocarpic so branches die back after flowering, but plants will generally re-branch from lower stems.

Aeonium “Cyclops”

Family: Crassulaceae

Large dinner-plate rosettes on thick stalk. Dark purple leaves with a bright green center in full sun. Hybrids available with many branches, but original cultivar is often solitary or with few branches. Giant pyramid of yellow flowers.

Origin:
This is a hybrid of A. undulatum and A. “Zwartkop” that was originally created by Jack Catlin, and distributed in the Huntington Garden’s 1995 issue of the International Succulent Introductions catalog (ISI-95).

Cultivation:
Does well outdoors in the bay area as a potted plant or landscape specimen. Plant in well draining media. This plant is from a winter rainfall region, but can receive water throughout the year in cultivation. Should be watered about once every 2 weeks, always allowing time for the soil to dry out between waterings. This plant does not like extreme heat and can fry if the temperatures rise above 100°F for long periods. Aeoniums are monocarpic so branches die back after flowering, but plants will generally re-branch from lower stems