Thursday, April 24, 2008

Orange Brilliance

X Echinopsis 'Fire Chief'



The 'Fire Chief' is one of the most popular of the Harry Johnson cultivars. The X Echinopsis is a hybrid cross of Echinopsis and Chamaecereus sylvestrii. The cactus stems are long, and grow in many directions. The stems produce little peanut-like offshoots on the stems that can be plucked off and replanted. I have many of these babies growing in pots, and I've never lost one of them. I just mix all of the X Echinopsis cultivars together without labels so that I will be surprised when they eventually mature enough to bloom.

Harry Johnson was a California cacti grower who, in the 1930s and 1940s, produced many Echinopsis hybrids. He became famous for his hybrids with spectacular flowers, many of which are still as popular today, such as 'Fire Chief'.

This is the first flower of the season for this small specimen. Flowering will continue off and on until September. On one occasion, this cactus had seven of these huge flowers open at once. Since then, they usually come one or two at a time. No matter--one alone is spectacular!

6 comments:

beckie said...

Fire Chief is a very appropiate name for this one! Must be fun to see the little ones grow and surprise you with the flower color. 7 blooms at once must be some kind od record.

Teri said...

I was just admiring my neighbors blooms on the same kind of cacti. I had not seen such a brilliant orange before. You really captured it just beautifully.

Cheryl said...

How many cacti have you got. This is an amazing blog, the flowers just keep coming and coming.

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

The name is spot on, what a vibrant colour!

Julie said...

I think your Fire Chief is one of my top 5 favs of your cacti!

kate smudges said...

I like the name, along with the colour, of this flower. You have an incredible knowledge of all aspects of cacti.