Mesembs with pairs of smooth egg-shaped silver-green leaves to 1/2″
Soil
Argyroderma testiculare
Mesembs with pairs of glaucus green leaves to 1/2″
Ariocarpus fissuratus
Slow-growing to 10″d; hairy center; summer blooms; keep dry in winter
Ariocarpus fissuratus v. lloydii
Slow-growing to 10″; smoother than A. fissuratus. ep dry in winter
Ariocarpus retusus
Highly variable geophytic cactus, possibly through hybridizing. Slow-growing to 10″d. w/hairy center and summer blooms. Can take 10+ years for first flowers. Keep dry in winter.
Ariocarpus retusus fa. Matehuala
Form of Ariocarpus retusus with smooth dark pointy leaves. Slow-growing to 12″. Keep dry in winter.
Ariocarpus retusus v. furfuraceus
Slow-growing to 10″d; hairy center; summer blooms. Keep dry in winter
Ariocarpus trigonus ssp. elongatus
Possibly A. retusus ssp. trigonus
Rare, endangered, slow to 12″; Incurved tubercles. Mexico/Texas border.
Armatocereus cartwrightianus
Large branchy cactus to 40’h.; long needle-like spines with white tips
Astroloba foliosa
2″ rosettes grow to 12″h.; pups at base; light-shade, protect from frost
Astroloba herrei
2″ rosettes grow to 12″-18″h.; pups at base; shade tolerant
Astrophytum asterias
Small solitary globular species, to 4″d.; yellow flowers; spineless areoles.
Astrophytum asterias “Super Kabuto”
Small, solitary, globose. Rare cultivar of Texas’ Star Cactus. Patterning varies, sometimes completely covering the dark green ribs. Yellow Flowers. Less water in winter. Do not over-water or over-fertilize.
Astrophytum capricorne
4″d. to 8″h. with long and twisted spines, many yellow/red blooms. Highly varied patterning of white spots.
Astrophytum caput-medusae
Digitostigma caput-medusae
Rare, endangered. Short round stem with supersized horn-like spotted green tubercles. Yellow flowers. Grows in shaded spots among scrub plants. Fast grower. Growth season is March thru August. Can lose tubercles if too dry in summer.
Astrophytum myriostigma
Solitary globular species, variable, to 10″d.; spineless areoles; Flowers yellow/red.
Astrophytum myriostigma v. nudum
Solitary globular species, smooth green skin, to 10″d.; spineless areoles; Flowers yellow/red.
Astrophytum myriostigma v. nudum f. variegatum
Rare form – smooth variegated skin with shades of green, yellow, or orange.
Astrophytum niveum
Small, slow-grower, deeply grooved
Astrophytum ornatum
Dark green, red in sun; can grow columnar to 4ft.
Astrophytum ornatum v. mirbelii
Stout short spines. Stems are speckled white.
Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica
Opuntia cylindrica
Shrubby 5-8ft. tall, will grow wide; small red blooms
Austrocylindropuntia shaferi
Opuntia shaferi
Small South American cholla, to 24″h.
Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Opuntia subulata
Andean tree cholla gets 12 feet tall in habitat but can reach 25 feet in Bay Area, tubular leaves, long spines. Creates a very effective living fence. The fruit often drop and root in place.
Austrocylindropuntia subulata fa. monstrose
Opuntia “Monstrose”
Monstrose cholla to 3ft.; dense branches, small spines from A. subulata
Austrocylindropuntia verschaffeltii
Opuntia verschaffeltii
Shrubby to 12″; purple in full sun; small red blooms. Many low-growing wide-spreading green stems with purple leaves on new growth. Will form large clumps.
Austrocylindropuntia vestita
Shrubby, branches grow vertically. Tubular leaves are persistent. Hairy stems, red flowers. Slender stems 2-3ft tall.
Avonia buderiana
Thin papery scales over tiny leaves; 2″l. stems; white flowers; dry, fast-draining soil
Avonia herreana
Anacampseros herreana
Tiny caudiciform, many branches covered practically solid in white “leaves”. Rare and hard to grow. Light roots, water lightly. Small yellow flowers. Keep dry in winter.
Avonia lanigera
Branches 1 1/2″ across, 2-3″ h. with hairy rosettes