Cactus and Succulents - Part Sun

Myrtillocactus geometrizans fa. cristata

Myrtillocactus “Crest”

Stunning, slow-growing, densely crested cactus. A number of different clones have more or less dense crests. Bluish in full sun. Tends not to bloom or set fruit as much as the non-crested species.

Nananthus margaritiferus

Small knobbly blue-green leaves. Yellow flowers. Dormant in summer – minimal water. Thickened roots. Hardy if kept very dry in winter.

Neoregelia “Adonis”

Large clusters of very bright red 6″ rosettes on this semi-hardy terrestrial bromeliad.

Neoregelia ampullacea

Classic small Bromeliad will readily hybridize, with many cultivars available. Rosettes will show varying amounts of striping and spotting

Ochagavia litoralis

Terrestrial Bromeliad

Slow growing grey-green rosette with strongly toothed leaves and pink flowers in summer. Looks best in full sun. Great in containers.

Opuntia “Big Sky”

O. engelmanii “Big Sky”

Large brown spines, 8-10″ pads. Will grow 6 to 8 feet tall. A robust and large selection.

Opuntia “Desert Gem”

O. rufida “Desert Gem”

Small prickly pear with lots of glochids to 10″ w/orange flowers

Opuntia basilaris

Classic blue cactus from the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Very low water, can handle high heat and winter cold if dry. Pink flowers. Loads of small glochids, very few spines. Will get 2 to 3 feet tall and spread 6 to 8 feet wide over time. Pads were used medicinally.

Opuntia basilaris v. caudata

Compact variety. Smaller pads than the species, often heart-shaped. Will stay as low as 1 foot tall, but will spread 4 feet wide.

Opuntia ellisiana

O. cacanapa “Ellisiana”

Big round pads, purple-edged in full sun. Large edible reddish purple fruit. Practically spineless, including minimal glochids.

 

Opuntia engelmannii

Large edible fruit. Shrubby w/many pads, will sprawl to 10ft. Variable yellow to orange blooms.

Opuntia ficus-indica

Has been cultivated for centuries, probably native to Mexico. Variable habit, generally low spine.

Fast growing prickly pear, tree-like to 10ft. Large quantity of bright red edible fruit.

Opuntia ficus-indica “Grandma Anita’s”

Opuntia “Grandma Anita’s” must have a pretty good story behind that name. And it does! Rikki brought it up to us from her family’s homestead in Central California before she left us to go start her own cactus farm. Her great-grandmother Anita cultivated these for years, a long time ago, for the delicious fruit and they’re still growing on the property. And then there’s the story about Anita and Zorro and the pickle barrel. But you’ll have to ask Rikki about that.

Opuntia fragilis

Small stems, elliptical to round, forming mats along the ground, often found in dry grasslands.

Opuntia humifusa

O. compressa

Low growing mats/clumps of small purple tinged pads, to 12″h. Has been used medicinally and as a dye. Can handle cold and snow, will flop over, laying flat on the ground. Small gold flowers, red fruit.