Thelocactus setispinus

Thelocactus setispinus

T. setispinus, known as Miniature Barrel Cactus, and will grow to about six inches high and four inches in diameter. It will retain its globular shape while young, and then become more elongated. Although it has been reclassified as Thelocactus for some time, it is sometimes still labeled as Ferocactus setispinus or Hamatocactus setispinus. Another common name for this cactus is Strawberry Cactus.

An interesting characteristic of Thelocactus is that it can have spines that range in color from white to red to brown, and even yellow, and all these color spines can be on the same cactus. The T. setispinus ususally has dark brown and white spines, but I can also see some yellow coloration on the hooked central spines of this cactus.

This cactus needs light shade in Phoenix. It is a summer grower, so it needs supplemental water. It liks sandy soil, so I heavily amended my garden soil with sand and pumice before planting it.

Pretty Litter

Acacia salicina seeds

Several months ago I wrote about the Willow Acacia's pros and cons. One negative I listed was the litter from leaf drop and seed pods several times a year. However, I do think the seeds are beautiful. The shiny black seeds have bright red structures on the ends that remind me of ladybugs. Well, actually the only resemblance is the color combination. Aren't they pretty?

The Last Wildflower

Penstemon parryi

By May 10, most all the Penstemon flowers in my garden are spent and the seedpods ripening. This year, I trimmed off the flower stalks before the seedpods opened because the last thing I need next spring is another 100,000 stray Penstemon seedlings coming up everywhere. I spent countless hours pulling up all those seedlings and I'm not going to do that again next year! However, germination is irregular with this genus and species, so I may just get another bumper crop next spring regardless of my work to prevent it. Our heavy late winter rains this past year probably brought up seeds from three years ago.

The Penstemon in the photo was still blooming when I trimmed all the other plants in early May, so I just let it be. It has continued to flower with no signs of slowing anytime soon. It must be in just the right place with the right amount of water from nearby shrubs. Our temperatures are heading back up into the triple digits after a week's respite, and this species usually doesn't flower in intense heat. Once these flowers are gone, that's it for wildflowers this year. In the meantime, the hummingbirds are loving these!

Parodia magnifica

Parodia magnifica

Parodia magnifica is one of the most attractive species of the genus. The golden spines grow thickly along each rib, and they are very fine textured and flexible. Commonly called the Balloon Cactus because of its shape, it becomes more columnar as it ages. The yellow flowers on the P. magnifica are almost translucent. Some years the cactus will produce three or four flowers at once, other years, singly, such as this one has this year.
P. magnifica can vary from specimen to specimen. some specimens have a bluish green body, and others are dark green like my specimen. Also variable are the spine length, number of ribs and whether it will produce offsets. I have never had a specimen that produced offsets, but my sister has one with numerous offsets around the base of the cactus. Because they are so attractive, I prefer specimens that do not produce offsets.
Before being reclassified into the Parodia genus, this cactus was in the Notocactus genus. Most Notocactus species come from a Brazilian climate that is cold and dry in winter, so P. magnifica would do well in my garden if I chose to remove this pair from their pot and to plant them there someday.

Rescued

Haworthia limifolia variegata

I'm not really a Haworthia fan, but in April I picked up several Haworthia species at a benefit sale held by our local Cactus and Succulent Society. One of the members had been severely burned in a house fire, and had been in a coma for close to eight months. He was an avid Haworthia collector and hybridizer, and his plants went without care in the months he had been hospitalized. Although his collection was located outside, many were scorched from the intense fire. Even some of the plastic pots the plants were in had partially melted. The club decided to hold a benefit sale of his huge collection to help raise money for his astronomical medical costs.

It was very sad to see all those scorched and neglected plants for sale, knowing all the time and effort he had put into them over the years. Many members of the club and the public purchased the plants, which were really cheap because of their obvious neglect and fire damage. I picked up several Haworthia species, mostly to benefit the poor man. I've since spent some time learning about the Haworthia genus. It was amazing that the plants made it through the scorching and eight months without water. Once I got them home and started a watering routine, the plants almost immediately grew new green leaves, and seem to be thriving.

There are hundreds of species in the Haworthia genus. They need light shade, especially in Phoenix, and prefer to be kept dry in the winter months. H. limifolia needs regular watering in summer, but it can be over watered if not careful and can easily suffer from root rot. Even if this happens, the plant can be washed off, and started in fresh soil. There's a good possibility it will re-root. H. limifolia needs protection from frost in winter, but other than that, it can live outdoors all year.

From the tag included with these plants, it appears the previous owner was trying to cross H. limifolia with H. viscosa. He had his own code, so it's impossible to know for sure, but I believe this is good guess. The man is still in a coma after nine months, but I'm sure he would be heartened to know many specimens from his precious collection are being cared for by numerous people across the Phoenix area.

Memorial Day

We Remember

Zap, Zonk, Zow, Powie!

If you shy away from hot, brilliant colors, you won't like my garden.

Tagetes patula ~ French Marigold

 

Echinopsis x Red Paramount

Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst'

Caesalpinia pulcherrima ~ Red Bird Of Paradise

Baby Sago Leaves

At my previous residence, we had a large Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) that regularly produced pups. My husband always removed them, and I would occasionally plant them in pots. Some would take, but more just dried up. When we moved, one of the potted pups came along, and it is now five years old. A few times a year it puts out spikes, which slowly uncoil into individual leaflets that form a new set of leaves in the center of the plant. I love watching them uncoil. The whole process takes a couple of months.

Sago Palms are slow growing and don’t bloom for at least a decade. My large palm was 11 years old when it bloomed, and that’s when I learned it was a male. The male and female palms have different inflorescences. The male inflorescence looks like a pineapple or a large pinecone, and the female inflorescence is a globular group of strange looking scaly leaves covering large orange seeds. The seeds are poisonous to animals and humans.

The Sago Palm, recommended for USDA Zones 8-11, can’t take our intense summers, so it should be located in partial shade in Phoenix. The Sago Palm is good as a houseplant. It is extensively used as a Bonsai subject because of its lengthy lifespan.

Almost As Good As Blueberries

Myrtillocactus cochal

Candelabra Cactus

Myrtillocactus cochal is endemic to the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, and can grow to a height of six to nine feet. It has an attractive lime green color and sparse spines. The cactus at times can take on a bluish tinge. In late spring, small edible berries follow the greenish yellow flowers. The long central spines are quite thick, and each central spine has several radial spines that surround it.

Although this cactus is not usually grown in a container because of its potential size, that’s where I keep my specimen. The container will retard its growth. Cuttings are the usual method of propagation. Planting the cuttings in the hottest months of summer will provide a better chance of rooting. Cuttings need a few days to dry and callus before planting.

Whortleberry Cactus is another name used for M. cochal because of the blueberry-like fruits. The berries not only resemble blueberries, they also taste like them. I’ve eaten every berry this cactus has produced this year, and as it grows, I’ll have an even bigger crop each year!

Echinopsis Season

Echinopsis 'Elegant Lady'

Currently I have five Echinopsis hybrids in bloom. 'Elegant Lady' is a Bob Schick hybrid that opened this morning. The flowers have a slight pink flush on the outer petals.

Echinopsis 'Haku Jo'

E. 'Haku Jo' is a Japanese hybrid with a pure white flower. Some cacti collectors believe this is a difficult cultivar to grow, but so far I've had no problems with it. It does not flower as readily as other hybrids, so having this new flower today is a treat!

There are thousands of Echinopsis hybrids available from various hybridizers. Many are derived from Harry Johnson, 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 popular today. A current hybridizer is Bob Schick, who, in conjunction with the Huntington Botanic Gardens in California, has produced about 130 hybrids that are in demand because of their unusual beauty, size and heavy flowering.

Echinopsis offsets will be identical to the parent, so if you find a hybrid that you like, you can be sure that the flowers that come from the offsets will be true to the parent. It is also easy to grow Echinopsis hybrids from seed, but there is no guarantee that the flower will be the same. In fact, the flowers can be completely different in color and shape.

An Array Of Colors

Parodia sp (Yellow) Echinopsis 'Rose Quartz' (Rose Red)Echinopsis sp.(White with Pale Pink)Chamaelobivia x 'Fire Chief' (Bright Orange

Echinocereus pulchellus (Hot Pink)

A Survivor

Rebutia pulvinosa

The numerous bright orange flowers on this Rebutia pulvinosa came as a surprise this year. This is the first time it has bloomed since I purchased it several years ago. The cactus has had a rocky past couple of years. It is among the several cacti that I've had over the years that came back from bad circumstances and thrived. (See two others that are survivors in Post 1 and Post 2).

During a windstorm in January of 2007, this cactus was blown over and the pot broke. I didn't have any pots of the appropriate size in which to repot it, so I left it in the broken pot, roots partly exposed, and placed the whole thing into another larger pot until I could find the right sized replacement pot. Well, months passed, and I just never got around to shopping. Occasionally I would throw some water on the cactus, not imagining it would survive with so many exposed roots. It went through record cold, extreme heat, no water, and probably inadequate light lying on the bottom of a large pot. Every couple of months I would resolve to find a proper pot for it since it was still growing, but it wasn't a priority.

Finally in late winter this year I purchased several pots, including one just for this cactus. I repotted it in February of 2008 and it just took off, growing new heads and now, all these flowers. Sometimes I think neglect can bring out the best in some plants!

Star Flowers of Natal Plum

Carissa macrocarpa 'Boxwood Beauty'

The pure white, simple flowers of Natal Plum have a wonderful fragrance, but it does not carry. You have to get in close to get a whiff. All parts of this plant are poisonous, except for the edible fruits, but only after they are ripe. I still haven't tried them--too scared!

The dwarf cultivar, 'Boxwood Beauty', is supposed to be thornless, but I can attest to the fact that it does have thorns, and they are brutal! To read more about this great little shrub, see a previous post about it.

Out My Back Door

"Bother me tomorrow, today I'll buy no sorrow
Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door" *

And, out my front door



*Creedence Clearwater Revival
Lookin’ Out My Back Door (Lyric excerpt)

Maybe Tomorrow...

I don't keep a regular vegetable garden, but I do grow at least one container tomato plant every year. I patiently feed and water it for several months just to get a few fresh tomatoes. The red one should be ready to pick tomorrow. This year's tomato plant is an Early Girl VFF Hybrid, with 16 tomatoes in various stages of growth. Now that the temperatures are getting consistently above 95 degrees, the 16 tomatoes I have will be all I'll get this year.

Maybe in the fall...

I hope my Brown Turkey figs continue to grow and ripen so that by October I'll have some fresh figs. I pruned the fig back in late winter, just as instructed by the nursery, in order to promote fig production. The first year I decided to let it grow and got only a very few, very small figs. This year there are a lot of figs growing on the small tree, so maybe the pruning worked.

By fall, the pears from this Opuntia engelmannii should be ripe and ready to use for Prickly Pear Vinaigrette and maybe some Cactus Candy.

The Bells Of Summer

Tecoma stans Yellow Bells

Yellow Bells is a great shrub for USDA Zones 8-11. It is a popular Arizona landscape starter shrub with new homeowners. It is fast growing, heat resistant, and blooms from spring to late fall, with a break during the periods of extreme Arizona heat. It is supposed to be hardy to 10°F, but it did freeze to the ground during our 2006 cold snap. Even after hard freezes, it quickly comes back in very early spring and can reach six feet high in one season. Many local homeowners train this shrub into a beautiful small tree. It reaches about 12 feet high with a spread of about six feet. It produces a moderate amount of dried flower litter, along with long bean pods that dry and drop in early summer.

This shrub is also called Yellow Trumpet Flower, Esperanza, and Yellow Elder.

Tecoma 'Orange Jubilee'

Tecoma 'Orange Jubilee' is actually more popular in Arizona than Yellow Bells. It is a hybrid of Tecoma stans and Tecoma alata, and it's larger than Yellow Bells. It too can be trained into a small tree, but most folks leave it in its natural shape. It can grow to 12 feet tall in one season, and if there's no frost, heights of 15 feet are possible. Just as Yellow Bells, it has a moderate amount of litter. It blooms all year, even in the intense heat of summer.

This is not a shrub for small gardens. It has a spread of about six to eight feet. Like Yellow Bells, it needs little water once established. Tecoma 'Orange Jubilee' is also sold as Tecoma 'Burnt Out', or Orange Bells.

They Just Keep Comin'

Opuntia santa-rita

The Santa-Rita Prickly Pear always has some purple coloring on the pads, which is pronounced in cold weather. The color gradually lightens as the weather warms. O. santa-rita blooms in May, and the pale yellow flowers beautifully complement the purple pads.

Mammillaria duoformis F. tenango de valle

The central spines on M. duoformis are dark brown and hooked. M. duoformis has several forms, and the tenango de valle is one of them. The one constant is that all M. duoformis forms have dark red flowers. However, some sources claim that the tenango de valle form has white flowers, and that was what I expected with this cactus. Now that it has bloomed for the first time, I don't know what to think. It's definitely an M. duoformis, so I guess that's good enough!

Many species of Mammillaria need light shade in Phoenix, so I have them planted under the dappled shade of the Palo Verde trees. It provides the perfect environment for protection in brutal summers, and offers some protection from frost. The downside is that most Mammillaria flower in late April/early May, just when the Palo Verde is in full bloom. The result is cacti covered with dried Palo Verde flowers, which are impossible to remove without using a blower. Even then, remnants remain for a couple of months. I tried to clean this one off for a decent photo, to no avail. The hooked central spines of the M. magnifica exacerbate the problem.

Mammillaria marksiana

The insignificant flowers of the M. marksiana (Cabeza de Viejo) take a back seat to the spirally arranged prominent tubercles that form a clear wheel-like pattern that seems to be moving when you stare at it. The wooly axils help guide the eye to its spiral shape. This is a great example of the symmetry of cacti.

The Demise of Bees

Arizona Republic published a story this week stating that 36.1 percent of the nation's commercially managed hives have been lost in the past year. After reading about this, I remembered a poem that seemed fitting.

The

When the last bee died,
nobody noticed. Nobody put on black
or made a dirge for the death
of honey. Nobody wrote an elegy
to apricots, no one mourned for cherries.

When the last bee died,
everyone was busy. They had things to do,
drove straight to work each morning,
straight back home each night. The roads
all seriously hummed. Besides,

the pantries were still packed
with cans of fruit cocktail in heavy syrup,
deep deep freezers full
of concentrated grape and orange juice,
stores stocked with artificial flavoring.

When the last bee died, nobody saw
the poppies winking out, nobody cried
for burdock, yarrow, wild delphinium.
Now and again a child would ask for
dandelions, quickly shushed: That pest!

And everyone is fine. The children healthy,
radish-cheeked. They play she loves me/not
with Savoy cabbage leaves, enjoy the telling
of the great myths, peach and peony.
No one believes in apples any more.

End Notes for a Small History
Betty Lies
"Southern Poetry Review"
Summer 1998 Vol. XXXVlll, No. 1 page 33

Black Hedgehog

Black Hedgehog cactus flower ready to open, and just as pretty as the fully opened flower. I think the petals resemble dyed feathers. The little fuzzy balls are spine covered ovaries left after the flowers are spent.

Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. fitchii

Hedgehog cacti like full sun, so they have numerous spines to protect the skin from sunburn. The cactus stems and spine configurations are nothing remarkable, but the flowers on most Echinocereus species are gorgeous. Depending on the species, the flower colors range from green to orange, but the predominant colors are pink to purple. The flowers do not close at night and usually last just a couple of days.

The E. reichenbachii ssp. fitchii is commonly called Black Hedgehog. The spines are tipped in brown, and the cactus is slow growing to about six inches high. Hedgehogs generally don't require supplemental water.

Translucent Red

Gymnocalycium baldianum

After a recent garden tour in Jerome Arizona, I was inspired to stop by a botanical garden near there, and found this G. baldianum with a red flower. I've looked for one for several years, but since the flower color is seldom on the label, I've always passed them up. Since this one was definitely red, I brought it home.

I already have a very nice G. baldianum cactus with beautiful pink/coral flowers. I've been so pleased with the flowering length and frequency of this particular cactus that I wanted to add another with a different color flower. The G. baldianum species can have flowers that range from bright red through white.

There is a certain translucent quality to the flowers on G. baldianum that I don't see with other cactus flowers. They remind me of vellum or encaustic.

Tiny Cactus--Huge Flowers

Mammillaria saboae ssp. saboae

Mammillaria saboae is a miniature cactus, and the flowers are larger than the cactus stems from which they grow. The flower on this cactus is about 1-1/2 inches wide, and the stem is only 1/2 inch wide. The spine configuration on the M. saboae is quite attractive, as shown in a previous post. There are 17 to 25 spines per aureole, and the arrangement looks like a tiny star burst.

In Phoenix, this Mammillaria species must be kept in light shade, and it must have a fast draining soil mix. It prefers drier soil, so care must be taken not to over water.

Astrophytum myriostigma

Astrophytum myriostigma

This is a great cactus for those who are afraid of cacti because of the sharp spines and glochids. Astrophytum, means "star plant" in Greek. A. myriostigma is commonly called Bishop's Cap. The cactus is completely spine-free, and the skin is covered with white flecks that act as a sunscreen.
Bishop's Cap would be a perfect cactus for kids to learn about cacti and succulents. However, the cactus has to be about five to six years old before it flowers, so if you're interested in the flowers, be sure to buy a larger one.

Something A Little Tamer

The small, creamy flowers on this Mammillaria magnimamma are certainly tamer than many of the larger, more colorful cactus flowers that have been blooming in my garden of late.

The M. magnimamma species can have flower colors that range from cream to yellow, and pink to red. This is the first time this cactus has bloomed, so now I know which variety I have. M. magnimamma is also called Mexican Pincushion.

Couldn't Ask For More

Echinocereus viereckii ssp morricalii

When I saw this Echinocereus viereckii ssp morricalii, I was immediately taken with the bright green stems, without knowing what color the flowers would be. When it bloomed this week, I was delighted to see these magenta flowers. This find makes up for the various semi-disappointments I've had with cactus flower color among my specimens. This cactus promises to be one of the nicest specimens in my collection.

Although the stems look as if they won't take full sun in Phoenix, I was assured that I could plant it in my garden without worry; however, I chose to pot it. The stems can reach almost two feet tall, and it will continue to clump and grow new stems.

Agave 'Kissho Kan'

Agave 'Kissho Kan'

Agave 'Kissho Kan' is a Dwarf Variegated Butterfly Agave cultivar that will always stay small. It shouldn't get any larger than 12 inches high and wide. "Kissho Kan" is Japanese for happy or lucky crown. There are quite a few 'A. Kissho Kan' cultivars from Japan. This one is one of the most attractive with its creamy margins and reddish-brown terminal spines. Dwarf Butterfly Agave cultivars are highly prized in Japan, and they are also becoming popular with collectors in the United States.

A. 'Kissho Kan' cultivars, especially the varigated forms, are still hard to find in the United States. They are somewhat expensive even for a young specimen such as mine. I've seen very young A. 'Kissho Kan' cultivars selling on Ebay for up to $45.00. My Agave came from a cactus grower, so I know it is truly what it is labeled. Some of the plants on Ebay that are called A. 'Kissho Kan' are no more an A. 'Kissho Kan' than a rose! I've seen some Octopus Agave pups being passed off as A. 'Kissho Kan' and selling for $30.00. The poor buyers will be shocked when their so-called rare cultivars grow out of the pots and become huge Agave specimens. Regular Agave pups are a dime a dozen; people can't even give them away here in Arizona.

Potter Mark Muradian's beautiful handmade pot seems to be a good home for this little guy. It will always remain a container plant, sheltered from the intense summer sun in Phoenix, or frost in the winter. Other than that, it is cared for just like any other Agave. This is my second Dwarf Butterfly Agave. They are addictive!

Eye Popper

It almost hurts my eyes to look at the flower of this Echinopsis hybrid. On first glance, the flower looks florescent. Actually, the edges of the inner petals are a hot pink, and when combined with the brilliant red, the flower seems to glow.

The side view shows how large the flower is compared to the cactus stem. There are 14 flower buds on this cactus. I do hope several of them open at the same time, but then, I'll have to put on sunglasses to look at it!

May Desert Garden

My garden is at its best right now--the Palo Verde trees and Mesquite trees are in full bloom. All the plants are lush, and many of my cactus plants continue to flower. The garden will stay this way until mid-June, and then it will start its dormant period in July through mid-September, our hottest time of the year. It's hard to belive that three years ago this month, this was a barren piece of land.

This dove and its female counterpart had the wherewithal to build a proper nest and they have been taking turns incubating the eggs for almost two weeks. Dove eggs hatch in 14 to 15 days, so I should be seeing some babies very soon. The male incubates by day and the female by night, so this is the male. Doves are notorious for building very poor nests as I noted in a previous post, so the fact that this nest is still intact is a small miracle!

The Chilean Mesquite tree flowers, called catkins, are in various stages of their life cycle. Soon, these will become Mesquite beans, suitable for drying and grinding into flour. Not that I do this--but many people in our region do it every year.

Echinopsis x 'Los Angeles, an early morning bloomer, produces numerous flowers that wilt within hours. I usually set my alarm to get up early enough to catch these flowers at their peak. Getting up early is no small feat for me, but a glimpse of these flowers makes it worth a couple of hours of lost sleep.

A Mammillaria sp. is flowering in the typical Mammillaria flower ring on the new growth. The tag got lost on this little cactus, and I won't hazard a guess as to its species.

This cactus was labeled as Echinopsis pentlandii longispinus, but now that it has flowered, I have to wonder. The buds look more like Gymnocalycium buds. However, the flowers open only at night, making it hard to get a good shot. I don't know of any species of Echinopsis or Gymnocalycium that bloom at night, so maybe it's another genus altogether.

An unidentified cactus (another lost tag!) that produces small flowers that are more green than yellow. The flowers are a nice contrast to the red spines.

This Sansevieria suffruticosa v. longituba flower stalk has sticky droplets all over the flowers and stalk. This is the first time I have ever seen the flowers. I have no idea if the droplets are normal--but I believe they are because the flower stalks on two of these plants have the same substance on them. Either it's normal or they both have the same problem!

Bryophyllum 'Crenatodaigremontianum' is making its little plantlets on the leaf margins. It is one of the "Mother of Thousands" plants that I keep potted to avoid having a crop of this stuff.

The Creosote bushes are in full bloom, with thousands of tiny sweat bees swarming around them. The small fuzzy seedpods form after the flowers are spent.