Opuntia Blog

Calymmanthium flower, image showing columnar nature of plant, image from Wikipedia

Calymmanthium is a genus with apparently only one species. It is apparently not closely related to other cacti and is placed in its own tribe, Calymmantheae. Calymmanthium is apparently only found in Peru.

Calymmanthium plants are columnar, and the flowers are unique because the buds are (at first) enclosed in a stem and push their way out of the end of the stem as they bloom. The flower buds resemble a stem at first and are only seen to be flowers when they emerge from the stem-sheath. In effect, the ovary is exceptionally inferior.  

Calymmanthium flower emerging from "stem," click image to see original large image(s)

Pedicactus simpsonii, image from Wikimedia

 
Pediocactus simpsonii is often called “mountain cactus” or “pincusion cactus. It is found at higher elevations in many parts of the West. I have seen it in Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. It is reported for the inland mountain areas of New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, and even South Dakota. 
The plants are usually not large, and are often single or in small clusters. Flowers may be yellow, pale yellow, pink, almost magenta, pale pink, or pale strawberry pink. The plants are very hardy and typically grow above 4,000 ft to 9,000 ft (or more. In winter the small plants can shrink to nearly ground level–and are thus protected from drying winds.  The plants are found with sagebrush, pinon pine, junipers, high grassy-dry areas, or even in gravel soils over rock. Additional information about P. simpsonii can be found at Cactus Art Nursery. 
Several varieties and/or subspecies have been described, but I can never figure out which plants are what. P. nigrispinus seems to be a valid taxon; it is found in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. At one time or another P. simpsonii was considered a type of Echinocactus and even a member of the genus Mammillaria. More information about Pediocactus can be found at the Flora of North America and at Benny’s Cactus Garden.

Pediocactus simpsonii, image from Wikimedia, click on image for original large file

Escobaria vivipara

I’m confused about the differences between Coryphantha and Escobaria. I think that, as explained to me by various sources, the differences are small and perhaps difficult to detect. I understand that Escobaria flowers have fringed tepals, whereas the tepals of Coryphantha lack such fringe, but I don’t know if this is a hard rule or a soft rule.

Daiv Freeman (at CactiGuide) reports  that,

“The seeds of Escobaria are pitted (foveolate) unlike the crisscrossed (reticulate) seeds of Coryphantha. While the seeds are necessary to make a consistent distinction, other more generalized guidelines help differentiate Escobaria from Coryphantha. These other features include: a lack of extrafloral nectaries, fringed edges on the flowers, corking and falling off of tubercles with age and smaller, typically pink flowers.”

An article by Dicht and Luthy provides an examination of the thinking about Coryphantha, and how it differs from Mammillaria. I’ll probably have to spend more time growing the various plants in order to understand some of the subtleties. You can read more about Coryphantha/Escobaria in the Flora of North America. You can view photos of Coryphantha or Escobaria species at CactiGuide.

Coryphantha durangensis, photo from uknown source

Gymnocalycium bruchii flower

Gymnocalycium is represented by a number of cold-tolerant species, but only a few are known to be hardy to below zero F. Among these is G. bruchii, one of the few species that offsets easily. G. bruchii flowers are soft pink, or violet, or even nearly white.

Generally, Gymnocalycium are easy to cultivate, and G. bruchii is no exception. The plants bloom off and on during spring and summer and present no special difficulties. Like most globular cacti, Gymnocalycium don’t care for extended wetness or high humidity. G. bruchii should be hardy (if kept dry in winter) throughout most of USDA climate zone 6.

G. bruchii can be purchased from High Country Gardens or Mesa Garden. You can learn more about Gymnocalycium at the Genus Gymnocalycium.

Othonna capensis

Othonna capensis is not an ice plant, but you could be forgiven for supposing it was. It has succulent little leaves that call an ice plant to mind, and both are from South Africa. And the cheery yellow flowers seem a bit ice plant-like.

However, O. capensis, also known as little pickles, is a member of the sunflower family. It is hardy into USDA climate zone 5 and loves a sunny spot.

You can buy O. capensis from Shoal Creek Succulents.

Coryphanthus echinus, photographed in Big Bend region, Texas

Coryphanthus echinus is a globular cactus that seldom offsets; it has bright yellow flowers. Some plants may have areoles with a porrect central spine, whereas other areoles lack such a spine. The plants are generally easy to grow and have a reputation of being cold hardy (to USDA climate zone 6).

You can read more about C. echinus here. You can purchase C. echinus from High Country Gardens.

Herbertia lahue, Columbus-LaGrange, Texas

I don’t usually think of the pretty Herbertia lahue as a desert flower, but I have found it growing with Escobaria missouriensis, Opuntia lindheimeri, O. macrorhiza, and Cylindropuntia leptocaulis. The cacti were mostly at the east edges of their ranges, and H. lahue was at the western end of its range. H. lahue was growing between Columbus and LaGrange, TX.

H. lahue has beautiful 1-day flowers, but the plant flowers for a month or more making it worthwhile to grow. It can dust pastures with pale blue in the Spring because the plants are so numberous in and around LaGrange.

H. lahue is really not a desert flower because it grows across southern Louisiana and along much of the Texas Gulf coast. But the area (at least in Texas) is subject to extreme drought sometimes–so H. lahue survives as a bulb. In contrast, cacti survive the drought of coastal Texas with their own cactus adaptations (lack of leaves, waxy cuticle, etc.).

Lobivia arachnacantha, click on photo to see original Web page

Logee’s Greenhouse Web site says that Lobivia arachnacantha is good for a dry, neglected windowsill. Various Web information suggests that L. arachnacantha is a reliable bloomer, even as an indoor plant, if it gets some sun and overall good bright light. It is a good beginner plant and one bonus is that the flowers might be yellow, red, or orange.

The other name for this taxon is Echinopsis ancistrophora ssp. arachnacantha, but it has also been called Pseudolobivia arachnacantha.

You can buy the plant from Logee’s Greenhouse, or from Miles’ to Go Nursery. You can read more about L. aracnacantha here.

Hesperaloe parviflora

Hesperaloe parviflora survives too much rain and too much shade; it tolerates scathing hot sun and not enough water. It is native to central Texas and parts of northern Mexico; so it is used to climate extremes. High Country Gardens reports that it has survived for 8 years in Santa Fe, New Mexico (USDA climate zone 5).

The leaves are green and wiry, and the red flowers are held high above the clump of leaves for weeks on end, bringing in the hummingbirds. H. parviflora is not a true yucca, but it is often called “red yucca” or “Texas red yucca.”

You can learn more about H. parviflora here and here. You can buy plants from High Country Gardens, and seeds from Reid Lewis Nursery.

Austrocylindropuntia vestita, photo by Craig Howe

Austrocylindropuntia are opuntiads from South America with cylindrical stems. For many years these plants were classified as Opuntia, but modern taxonomy places them in their own genus (that is related to Opuntia).

Austrocylindropuntia vestita is from Bolivia or northern Argenina. It is not particularly cold-hardy, but it has bright red flowers that are charming. The plants that I have observed were not large (under 2-foot-tall), and they were much branched at the base.

Apparently Austrocylindropuntia vestitia as had several names over the years, including: Opuntia vestita, Opuntia heteromorpha, Austrocylindropuntia chuquisacana, Opuntia chuquisacana, and Cylindropuntia vestita.

Trichocereus huascha in bloom, click on photo to see original image at Flikr

Some folks will tell you that Tricocereus plants are nothing more than columnar Echinopsis, and that they should not be termed Trichocereus. However, there is so much information out there that describes Trichocereus that I’m happy to use the older (if perhaps obsolete) term.

Trichocereus huascha has cylindrical stems and it branches from the base; thus the plant is often composed of several stems arising 6-24 inches from the ground. The flowers are glorious red and happy appearing. The plant is not a shy bloomer and is an easy plant to grow.

T. huascha is found in northern Argentina in highlands where it experiences a fair bit of cold weather. Yucca Do Nursery sells the plant and claims it is hardy to USDA climate zone 8b (15 F). Mesa Garden Nursery sells seeds of T. huascha that are reportedly hardy to 10 F. Likely the latter plants will survive to the upper single digits (7 or 8 F?) or perhaps colder.

Flowers are variable in T. huascha; they may be yellow, red, or orange. They are nice funnel-shaped flowers that are large.

You can learn more about Trichocereus here, and here.

Echinocereus engelmannii

Echinocereus engelmannii is a varied plant, with many described forms and variations. I’ve seen it growing in northern Arizona with black and white spines, and forms with almost all black spines near Palm Springs, California. There are tall (to 15 inches) plants growing in gravel gullies in Nevada and Arizona, and short stubby plants in Death Valley. Almost all forms share the flagrant, purple blooms that seem too large for the plant.

Almost all US forms of the species will take cold to zero or 10 F, and some will tolerate much colder weather (USDA climate zone 5b/6a).

The plant is often encountered in rocky or gravelly soils of the Mojave Desert, up to several thousand feet, but it is not restricted to the Mojave Desert.

You can read more about E. engelmannii here, and here. You can buy E. engelmannii from Mesa Garden (plants or seeds).

Hoodia species, image from Wikimedia

Hoodia species are related to the desert rose (Adenium) and to oleanders. All are members of the Apocynaceae.

“Hoodia gordonii is a leafless spiny succulent plant with medicinal uses. It grows naturally in South Africa and Namibia. The flowers smell like rotten meat and are pollinated mainly by flies…Hoodia gordonii was discovered and painted by in the vicinity of the Orange River in about 1779, and identified as a Stapelia, a closely related genus.”

 If you think all the claims about H. gordonii are too good to be true, maybe you are right. The plant has been proposed to treat depression, obesity, and gastric reflux disease.

 H. gordonii grows in summer rainfall areas of South Africa; it prefers to grow in summer and should be watered then. In the winter the plants like it cool and dry. H. gordonii (and probably most Hoodia) can survive a bit of frost (2 to 5 degrees F).

Learn more about the Apocynaceae here. Learn more about Hoodia gordonii here.

Two-tone flowers of Opuntia atrispina

Opuntia atrispina is not tall, but I consider it large; ie, larger than O. phaecantha (generally).

In the United States, O. atrispina is confined to an area east of the Pecos River, within about 50 miles of Del Rio, Texas. Judging from its geographic location, I imagine O. atrispina is hardy to zero F.

The plants have distinctive spines—gold or yellow or tan at the tips and dark brown (to brown-black) at the base). The flowers are copious and typically open yellow and turn salmon on day 2. The plants are distinctive with covered with flowers of two different colors.

You can learn more about O. atrispina here.

Opuntia atrispina with author (Joe Shaw)

Pterocactus bloom, image from Wikimedia

Pterocacus species are are cold-hardy opuntiads found in Argentina, in the cold western highlands or in the cold south. The plants typically have tuberous roots that assist as the plants survive the coldest weather (minus 10 F). The aerial shoots often fall off during the cold season and regrow during the growing season. No matter what happens to the top growth, the root remains permanent and enduring. The flowers are often surprisingly beautiful pastels of pink, cream, or yellow.

 At least nine species are reported:

• Pterocactus araucanus
• Pterocactus australis
• Pterocactus fischeri
• Pterocactus gonjianii
• Pterocactus hickenii
• Pterocactus kuntzei
• Pterocactus megliolii
• Pterocactus reticulatus
• Pterocactus valentinii

Propagation is by seed or cuttings. You can buy Pterocactus from Mesa Garden or from Miles’ to Go nurseries. You can learn more about Pterocactus here, and at the CactiGuide.

Pterocactus hickenii, image from Wikimedia

Echinopsis in flower, image from Wikimedia

Echinopsis is generally an easy genus; the plants are not too demanding as cacti and even tolerate a windowsill in some situations–blooming when the time is right. The plants have been grown in Europe for over 150 years and part of their popularity resides in their ease of culture, but part also derives from their huge flowers.

Eventually, the fascination spread across the sea and Harry Johnson from California created the Paramount hybrids, terrific plants with large flowers and lots of color. Later hobbyists in Germany and Czechoslovakia also created hybrids.

Mr. Bob Schick used the Paramount hybrids (and other influences) to create the Schick hybrids. Eventually the Huntington Botanical Gardens introduced (through the International Succulent Introductions) over 100 Echinopsis Schick hybrids.

You can learn more about Echinopsis here, and here. You can buy the Schick hybrids from Huntington Botanical Gardens, or you may buy other great Echinopsis plants from Miles’ to Go Nursery.

Puna bonnieae, photo by Willy Smith, click image to go to Willy's Cactus Argentina Web site

Puna bonnieae was discovered by Dave Ferguson and his colleagues in Catamarca, Argentina nearly 20 years ago. It is a beautiful small plant that looks a bit like an immature Tephrocactus geometricus. At least one author has proposed reassigning Puna bonnieae to Tephrocactus. For me, it will always be an Opuntia; sentimentally I think of all the opuntiads as types of Opuntia though such opinion is not encouraged by DNA data.

P. bonnieae has a nice pink flower that is startling in some photos because the plant is seems nonexistent, buried as it sometimes seems. Like some other opuntiads, P. bonnieae has underground storage organ, a turnip-like appendage that must help it survive really cold weather or really dry weather.

You can read more about P. bonnieae here, and here.

Opuntia echinocarpa, photo from Wikimedia

Opuntia echinocarpa (Cylindropuntia echinocarpa) is a Mojave Desert plant that grows at lower elevations (perhaps, 2,000 feet to 5,000 ft). In some places it is very common, almost as common as creosote bush (Larryea tridentata).

The flowers of O. echinocarpa are greenish, sometimes tinged with brown or russet; like many Cylindropuntia flowers they are not nearly as showy as other Opuntia flowers. The name “echinocarpa” means “spiny fruit,” and sure enough the fruits of this species are very spiny. Once I tried to collect a few seeds and I needed pliers just to break open the stiff fruits, but even though I used pliers I still got half-a-dozen sticks in my fingers and hands.

O. echinocarpa is more tolerant of too much water than O. basilaris, but neither plant enjoys much summer rain. And O. echinocarpa is probably hardy to -5 F (or perhaps zero F); maybe the plants from 5,000 feet are hardy another 10 degrees F.

You can read more about O. echinocarpa here, and here. You can buy seeds of O. echinocarpa from Mesa Garden.

Lewisia columbiana

Lewisias are cold-hardy plants native to North America, they grow in mountainous and rocky regions where drainage is excellent and soils are not fertile. So, while they have a reputation for being difficult, perhaps part of that reputation is because folks try to grow them in conditions that are “too nice.”

Lewisias are definitely plants for cold winter areas, even areas with dry summers, or sort of dry summers. They don’t need regular water because they are succulent in nature. I’ve seen them growing in the East (only once), but they prefer low humidity situations such as the mountainous regions of the West (their homland).

Lewisias have beautiful flowers, large in comparison to the size of the plant. The flowers come in whites, creams, pinks, hot pinks, reds, oranges, and apricots. They can bloom heavily in spring and then off and off throughout the summer.

You can read more about Lewisias here, and here. You can purchase Lewisia plants from Wild Ginger Nursery (I think)–but the Web site says you’ll need to check availability. If you are in England you can (apparently) buy Lewisia plants and seeds at Ashwood Nurseries.

Dydleya cymosa, cold-hardy rosette

Dudleya cymosa is a succulent rosette found in the mountains of California and Oregon. It grows from about 4,000 ft. to 7,500 ft. It’s blood-red or yellow-red flowers contrast nicely with the blue-gray leaves. Older plants can make a clump of rosettes a foot or two across.

D. cymosa is a great hummingbird plant, attracting the little fliers whenever it is in bloom. D. cymosa is surprisingly hardy, tolerating -10 F in some locations (especially where not overwatered and where drainage is good–as in a rock wall).

A number of subspecies of D. cymosa have been described by the Flora of North America. One form of the species is offered for sale by Arrowhead Perennials. The nursery describes the leaves as “glaucous silvery blue dusted with white powder.”

Chasmatophyllum musculinum, click for original image at Northern Nursery, photo by Martin Ravn Tversted

Chasmatophyllum musculinum is a super hardy member of the Mesembryanthemaceae (ice plant family). It survives in Denver (USDA climate zone 5), but it dies in spring wet weather in other zone 5 areas (eg, see Arrowhead Perennials note). One Web site reports that the species survives in Kansas without special protection (but presumably the plants have very good drainage).

The foliage is succulent and forms a mat, perhaps 1-2 inches tall and 6-12 inches wide. The cheerful yellow flowers are heaviest in Spring, and sporadic thereafter. The plant grows in full sun or light shade. Plants have survived Kansas winters without special protection.

The photo shows a plant grown in Denmark, at Northern Nursery. Photo by Martin Ravn Tversted.

For more information click here.

Delosperma ‘Mesa Verde’ has two names; it is also known as Delosperma ‘Kelaidis’. Apparently, ‘Kelaidis’ came up as a chance seedling in the Denver Botanic Garden, perhaps as a cross between D. cooperi and D. nubigenum. The seedling was popularized by Dr. Panayoti Kelaidis. Somehow it got two names; the ‘Kelaidis’ name is popular because Dr. Kelaidis did much work to popularize Delosperma plants in cold areas along with his overall rock garden work.

‘Kelaidis’ forms a green mat of succulent grown 2-5 inches tall, and has salmon pink flowers that have a metalic sheen. ‘Kelaidis’ is reported to be hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. As a bloomer it seems to be a great plant, various sources suggest that it blooms off and on from late spring till fall. Though it does fine in many USA locations, Delosperma ‘Kelaidis’ is originally from Africa.

For more information click here, and here. Delosperma ‘Kelaidis’ is offered for sale by various vendors, including the Wyoming Plant Company.

Delosperma 'kelaidis' (Mesa Verde), click image to find vendor Web page

Echinocereus coccineus, claret cup cactus, visited by hummingbirds

Echinocereus coccineus is adapted to pollination by hummingbirds. Not only does the red color of the flower help attract hummingbirds, but the actual shape of the flower is adapted to fit the bird bill and head. In addition to hummingbirds, sweat bees (halictid bees) are reported to visit the flowers of E. coccineus, and some information suggests the bees pollinate the flowers along with hummingbirds.

One paper reports:

“Claret cup flowers are huge and highly rewarding compared to sympatric hummingbird flowers from other plant families. Flower length and width averaged 68 mm and 30 mm, respectively, and daily nectar production averaged 30 mg sugar/flower. This set of traits represents a syndrome rare among hummingbird flowers in which the flower fits the head rather than just the bill, and birds are well rewarded for a risky or inconvenient visit. “

You can find more information about E. coccineus and hummingbirds here, and here. Some forms of Echinocereus coccineus are easily cold hardy to -10 F. Coldharydcactus.com offers E. coccineus they report is hardy into USDA climate zone 5.

Hildewinteria aureispina, click image to go to SuccSeed Web site

It has been over ten years since I ordered my first seeds from SuccSeed (when I lived in Pennsylvania), but I’m ordering again. For a long time I ordered only from Mesa Garden because I was familiar with the Web site and because that nursery offers so many Opuntias.

However, since moving to Maryland I’ve decided to grow a few more “different” things. Hence, my happy return to SuccSeed, where the service was always good, the product fine, and the friendly emails were a delight.  Like Mesa Garden, Succseed has good collection information for many of the seeds that they sell, and that is important to me. Often, you can estimate the altitude an accession was collected. One bonus to their online seed catalog is that you can download an Excel file to study at leisure–this is a great service because the “shopping cart” method of purchasing is a bit cumbersome for me. Of course, you need to make sure that spreadsheet offerings are currently in stock.

Now that it is January, and my thoughts have turned to seed germination, I’m getting an order ready for SuccSeed. I expect the best, just as I received before. Mats is pleasant and easy to do business with.

Echinocereus reichenbachii, photo from Wikimedia

Echinocereus reichenbachii is a small cactus with a big purple-pink flower. I’ve seen it growing in south-central OK, in central TX, and in southern CO; it occurs in northern Mexico. The plants are quite variable, sometimes with brown spines– sometimes white spines, and sometimes they are columnar, but other times they are short (like little golf balls).

E. reichenbachii is reported to be hardy in USDA climate zone 3, but I don’t know if that would include plants from the southern end of its range (ie, south Texas or Mexico).

E. reichenbachii is fairly tolerant of too much water, especially when compared to cactus species that grow further to the west. You can read more about E. reichenbachii here, and the plant is available from High Country Gardens or Mesa Garden. The plants from Mesa Garden are smaller (probably not blooming size), but they cost less and are available in many spine types.