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Miniature succulent with tiny, chunky, dark green leaves (to about 1/2" long) bearing white scaly texture. Stems grow to about 6 inches (mostly sideways, sometimes upward). Small whitish flowers. A well behaved container plant, good subject for macro photography.

From San Luis Potosí.

Very attractive blue-gray to blue-green yucca growing up to 6-15 feet tall (occasionally much larger). From southwest Texas (Brewster County) and northern Mexico. Relatively long leaves (up to 2 feet) appear in great numbers (>100) in a healthy rosette. Leaves are smooth, with a terminal spine and very fine marginal teeth. They sometimes have a yellow marginal stripe. Dead leaves are retained below, pointing downward and cloaking the stem. Many/most plants are unbranched, but they may branch sparsely at the base or at the top. White flowers appear in spring on inflorescences to 2 feet or more tall.

The dense, full foliage atop a relatively narrow stem (6-12" wide) makes older plants particularly impressive. Some people choose to remove the dead leaves below the rosette by cutting them off at the base, leaving a sort of nubbly stem exposed. I prefer the natural look.

Provide lots of sun and excellent drainage in containers and in the garden.

Compare to Y. thompsoniana (found further north in Texas; shorter; smaller leaves with a rough texture) and Y. rigida (from northern Mexico; fewer, wider leaves that are rigid and straight; inflorescence partly cloaked by leaves).

Smallish glaucous blue-gray-green agave from the SW US and NW Mexico. Dry-growing, sun-loving, heat-tolerant, and cold-tolerant (when kept dry). Size reaches about 2-3 feet wide (per rosette), depending on the variety and the conditions. Provide excellent drainage and lots of sun for best color and form.

From southern California, northern Baja California, Arizona and Sonora. Widely distributed and easily viewed in Anza Borrego Desert State Park (CA), where it flowers in vivid yellow during the spring and early summer.

This species is similar to Agave cerulata, which grows further south in Baja California (the dividing line is about 30°N latitude). The latter plant is usually a different color (more yellow-green), slightly smaller, with leaves that are wider for their length. A. deserti does not usually have brown eyelets ringing the base of the teeth.

The type variety Century Plant (Agave deserti var. deserti) from CA and BC usually offsets and may form large clumps. Heavily offsetting plants may produce smaller rosettes because they end up competing with each other. Desert Agave (Agave deserti var. simplex) from further north and east is solitary and may be better represented in cultivation. Century Plant (Agave deserti var. pringlei) occurs only in northern BC and is slightly larger.

Variable gray-blue-green or purplish cactus, often quite spiny, up to about 4-8 inches wide and usually wider than tall. Large for the genus, with large flowers. 0-4 central spines, 0-5 radial spines. Apical flowers are usually white or pale pink.

From Nuevo Leon and Coahuila in the Chihuahuan Desert. Two subspecies (hintonii is geographically distinct from the type), multiple varieties. Thelocactus (Thelocactus rinconensis var. phymatothelos) has greatly reduced to nearly absent spines.

Branched, spiny cactus tree from South America to over 30 feet tall (in old age). 20-30 ribs, 50-100 unequal spines. White to pinkish white flowers; hairy, dark green, edible fruit. Slow growing, long lived, drought tolerant.

From Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. This subspecies is taller than the type Cardon Grande (Leucostele atacamensis subsp. atacamensis) (>30 feet vs. 20 feet) and much more likely to be branched.

About a dozen species formerly filed under Echinopsis and Trichocereus were recently moved to the genus Leucostele based on genetic evidence, but they will usually be found under the former names. This subspecies is often sold as Echinopsis or Trichocereus pasacana.

Spiny South American barrel cactus (columnar with age) bearing tubular scarlet flowers pollinated by hummingbirds. Stems (typically unbranched) grow to 8-12 inches wide and up to 5 feet tall. (0-)1 central spine, 8-10 radial spines. Dry, dehiscent fruit. Flowers and fruit seem most similar to Oreocereus and Cleistocactus. Flowering occurs near the apex.

From western Argentina. The genus name is an anagram of Mendoza, the town and province where the first collection was made. It is monotypic (one species).

This smallish hybrid is usually sold under the apparently invalid species name Agave pumila. It is a dimorphic plant, with a compact, offsetting juvenile version to a few inches wide (for several years) and a spreading adult version to about 2 feet wide. Apparently one can hasten this conversion by putting potted plants in the ground.

Gentry treated pumila as a species but also considered the parentage of Agave lechuguilla (originally and currently spelled as lecheguilla) x Agave victoriae-reginae (compact form). The leaf underside strongly suggests the former parentage, despite what the CoL and the data above indicate (scabra=asperrima in the mix).

If the CoL is right that pumila = asperrima x nickelsiae (which I doubt) then Agave x pumila would be a synonym for Agave x nigra (one form of which is known in the trade as 'Sharkskin'), a very different looking plant without this odd dimorphic form.

In any case pumila was apparently collected in the 19th century and described on the basis of a Kew plant obtained from a Dutch trader, of unknown geographic origin. It was never found in nature (at least at the time of Gentry's writing).

Spiny South American ball cactus with yellow flowers.

This plant, formerly known as Parodia (Notocactus) schlosseri (after the guy who collected it in Uruguay, Hugo Schlosser), was apparently described as Echinocactus erubescens a few decades before that point, so the older name takes priority. According to Hunt it is apparently not a species but a hybrid of P. (N.) mammulosa with another Parodia. It belongs with a few plants that are closely related to P. (N.) scopa.

Chunky bluish white Echeveria with dense rosettes and understated reddish flowers. A really nice, full-looking plant with strong color. Apparent final size is about 10 inches if offsets are removed. Best color and form in strong light (like essentially all glaucous Echeverias).

A Frank Reinelt hybrid. Parentage often mistakenly given as E. cante (subrigida) x E. desmetiana 'Subsessilis'. Most likely it is colorata x desmetiana, judging by the shape of the flowers and the thickness of the leaves. Not uncommon in cultivation. Propagated from leaves or offsets.

Gray-green to bluish gray cactus with markedly tuberculate stems, whitish flowers, red fruit (at maturity). Shrubby habit to a few feet tall, stems to 2-2.5 inches wide. 1 central spine, 2-5 grayish radial spines. Nocturnal flowers near stem tips persist into daytime.

Strong colors and unusually tuberculate stems make this an attractive plant in cultivation. New spines are intense red, glaucous stems are bright in strong light.

From the Mexican states of Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla and México.

One of a handful of deciduous spiny stem succulents from West Africa that become large, chunky-stemmed, multi-branched shrubs after many years. The species name is misleading (there may be one main stipular spine, but usually also two more smaller ones).

Very seasonal (summer-fall) growth pattern. The leafy phase is associated with stem extension, while the leafless phase is typically when flowers (tiny yellowish cyathia) appear. Water more frequently from late spring through fall, especially when the plant is in leaf. In our mild winter rainfall climate, these plants enjoy regular winter water (in moderation) and mostly tolerate the rain (given good drainage).

This species (like its toxic West African relatives) is tropical in origin and seems to be marginal where heat is lacking. Here where high temperatures are in the upper 60s and 70s for most of the summer, these plants rarely have much foliage and tend to grow very slowly.

Stem succulent from Suculentas Dzityá in Yucatán with very strange red flowers in summer and fall bearing pointy raised texture. An apparent hybrid of Ceropegia (Huernia) hystrix. Stems are green but turn purple when stressed. The name of this hybrid is a play on words in Spanish connoting its unknown origin.

Through a feat of botanical quantum mechanics, this taxon has been deemed by the CoL to be both subspecies of Pelecyphora macromeris. Or are there even any subspecies? An existential question.

This result is an artefact of the renaming of this plant from Coryphantha macromeris to Pelecyphora macromeris, based on genetic analysis. The paper describing this move names Coryphantha macromeris as a synonym for P. macromeris (on this the CoL disagrees) and C. macromeris subsp. runyonii as a synonym for P. macromeris subsp. runyonii (on this the CoL agrees).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p...

To be clear, here is why the CoL is treating this taxon as two things at once. It is subsp. macromeris (according to the CoL) because Coryphantha macromeris (the entire species) is given as a synonym of P. macromeris subsp. macromeris. It is also subsp. runyonii (according to the CoL) because Coryphantha macromeris subsp. runyonii is given as a synonym of P. macromeris subsp. runyonii. Note also that according to the CoL, no form of Coryphantha macromeris is given as the synonym of Pelecyphora macromeris, despite the simple renaming of the species (and subsp. runyonii) in the paper describing this move. No reassortment was applied to the subspecies in the paper.

The difference between the two subspecies has to do with the color (runyonii is gray-green, not dark green or blue-green), shorter stem length (up to 3 inches instead of 9 inches) and restricted area of origin (near sea level on the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo plateau, in southern Texas and northern Mexico).

The reason for the recent move to Pelecyphora (preserving both subspecies in the paper documenting the change) is that this particular species is outside the group spanning all the other Coryphanthas and more closely related to various species of Pelecyphora. There are also floral similarities (fimbriate outer tepals). For what it's worth, the flowers of this species are apparently impossible to distinguish from those of P. vivipara, so be careful relying on this feature alone for identification.

Solitary (usually), globose or somewhat cylindrical cactus with stems to 5(-12) inches tall, 3 inches wide. Occasionally branches sparsely or clusters.

Lovely yellow flowers with red throats. Red, fleshy, indehiscent fruit. This is the only member of the genus that doesn't have dry, basally dehiscent fruit.

From Texas, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas from 0-550m altitude. Several varieties have been named but apparently are no longer recognized.

Relatively common, early and easy to flower in cultivation. This species apparently has extrafloral nectaries which may attract ants.

The genus Thelocactus is related to Stenocactus and Ferocactus, among other genera (all have ribs and scaly pericarpels). T. setispinus may be confused with F. robustus at a distance, before the latter plant is old enough to clump.

Clumping green to blue-green or gray-green cactus with bright pink or magenta flowers. Tubercular stems are 1.5 to 3 inches wide and up to 9 inches tall. Clumps may grow to over 3 feet wide. 1-4(-6) slightly curved central spines, 9-15 radial spines. Green fruit. Stout roots.

From New Mexico, Texas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas. Big Nipple Cory-Cactus (Pelecyphora macromeris subsp. runyonii) is from near sea level on the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) plain, with gray-green stems that grow shorter and have flatter tubercles.

Clumping hedgehog cactus from the southwestern US and northern Mexico with spectacular orange to red flowers. Stems may reach 2-6 inches in diameter, clumps over 3 feet, with hundreds of heads in old age. 5-13 ribs. 1-4 central spines and 0-22 radial spines (which are hard to distinguish), usually turning dark with age.

Two subspecies are currently recognized: Claret-Cup Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus subsp. triglochidiatus) and Mojave Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus subsp. mojavensis) , previously its own species, which has 8-13 ribs, 1 central spine, and 5-9 often curved and twisted radial spines.

Clumping, mounding hedgehog cactus with long spines and magenta flowers. Stems reach about 3 inches in diameter and clumps may grow to over 3 feet wide, with hundreds of heads in old age. 10-17 ribs. 1-4 central spines and 7-14 radial spines, all turning whitish with age. Fleshy, edible red fruit.

From New Mexico, Texas, and a few states in north-central Mexico (south to Durango). A former subspecies from the southwest of this range (only in Durango) is now its own species: Pitaya (Echinocereus occidentalis subsp. occidentalis).

Recently created genus housing 5 species of barrel cacti formerly under Ferocactus, including the clumping Zapotitlan Barrel Cactus (Parrycactus flavovirens). Separated from Ferocactus based on genetic evidence indicating they are a distinct lineage. Dry growing, drought tolerant, sun loving cacti.

Recently (2002) described Pachyphytum with fat, glaucous leaves; rosettes to 2-3 inches; and stems to about 12 inches, often branching at the base. Flowers have a red spot inside each petal. As with other members of the genus, beefy sepals obscure the petals.

From east-central Michoacán. Similar to P. machucae, from northwestern Michoacán, which has bigger leaves and different colored flowers.

Intensely glaucous white leaf succulent from Cuicatlán in Oaxaca (southern Mexico), where it grows on limestone. Leaves are plump and relatively long, rosettes to 5-6 inches or so. Stems may grow to 18 inches or more, with a sideways habit. Flowers are pink to pinkish orange, lacking a tube, clasped by large, fleshy sepals.

This species was originally described as an Echeveria in 2004 (though it lacks a corolla tube), then moved to Pachyphytum in 2010 (as it has the characteristic scale-like appendages inside the corolla lobes), then moved in 2023 to a new genus, Jeronimoa, based on DNA analysis showing it is an outlier from Pachyphytum.

A desirable and little offered succulent in cultivation, with a few hybrids (surely more to come). Old plants can be spectacular with good care.