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The variegated version of this common South African succulent is surprisingly vigorous given how much chlorophyll is missing from the stems (and the leaves, which are tiny and short lived). The stems, roughly the width of a finger, will branch and rebranch, reaching somewhere around 8-15" tall. They tend to be weak and fall over, even in strong light. The cyathia are tiny and plants are either male or female, like the species. (Maybe only female, I don't know.)

This soft rosette succulent from Oaxaca, Mexico is one of the hairiest Echeverias (certain forms in particular). Every above-ground part of the plant (including flowers) is covered with a dense layer of fine translucent hairs. The rosettes may grow up to about 6 inches wide and stems may reach a few inches long. As the plant ages and the stems elongate and branch, it turns into a small shrub. Flowers are orange and big-bottomed. This plant has been used in hybridization and is the parent of Echeveria 'Pulv-Oliver' and Woolly Rose (Echeveria 'Doris Taylor'), among many others.

Named varieties include Echeveria (Echeveria pulvinata var. leucotricha) (a former species) and Echeveria (Echeveria pulvinata var. frigida), which both have so much hair that the leaves appear white in strong light. One of the oldest cultivars is Echeveria (Echeveria pulvinata 'Ruby'), which has dramatic red highlights on the leaves in strong light.

An old Dick Wright hybrid Echeveria, sister seedling of 'Rain Drops', similar appearance with one big carunculated wart on each leaf. Leaves are a slightly different shape.

Selenicereus is a genus of a few dozen climbing, lithophytic or epiphytic cacti with big (to giant) nocturnal flowers and globose or oblong, fleshy, usually red fruit.

Selenicereus (formerly ~28 species with narrow, 2-12 sided stems) recently absorbed the genus Hylocereus (~18 species, typically with 3-sided stems) and most of Weberocereus (~5 species with 2-5 sided stems), based on DNA sequence analysis. The former Hylocereus, and possibly some other plants, is referred to as pitahaya, as is its fruit, in Mexico and other countries of origin. These cacti are cultivated for their fruit, most notably Dragon Fruit (Selenicereus undatus), as well as their large nocturnal flowers (the largest in the family). The new Selenicereus spans a geographical range from the southern US through Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean, into northern South America.

The closest genetic relatives of Selenicereus include Disocactus, Epiphyllum, Kimnachia, Pseudorhipsalis, and Weberocereus (in its newly reduced form, with 2 species). The 2017 study which expanded Selenicereus can be found here:

https://www.researchgate.net/p...

Note: the pitahaya (Selenicereus, climbers and epiphytes) is distinct from the pitaya (Stenocereus, spiny columnar cacti), though the pronunciation is nearly the same. Both words refer to the edible fruit and the plant.

Solitary or clumping greenish cactus with bright yellow flowers up to 5 inches wide. The flowers appear near the tips and are fragrant. Stems are gray-green to reddish green with 5-11 ribs, 0-4 central spines, and 0-10 radial spines. They grow 1.5-6 inches wide, a couple of inches to a foot tall.

From arid northwestern Mexico. Two subspecies have been described. Alicoche (Echinocereus subinermis subsp. subinermis) (Sinaloa, Sonora, Chihuahua) is often solitary or sparingly branched, sometimes spineless, with 5-9 ribs and a slightly woolly floral tube. Alicoche (Echinocereus subinermis subsp. ochoterenae) (southern Sinaloa) usually clumps, is never spineless, with 8-11 ribs and a very woolly floral tube.

Shrubby succulent with furry leaves and shy, unimpressive whitish flowers in groups on panicles above the foliage. The plant may grow to about 3 feet tall and wide. Pruning can be useful to improve the form. Cuttings can be used to start new plants. Mature individuals are incredibly drought tolerant, doing fine here with zero supplemental water, just a few inches of annual precipitation and a months-long summer drought.

This cultivar somewhat resembles Kalanchoe beharensis, but it is reported to be a hybrid with miliotii, and it has somewhat intermediate leaf features. Both species are from Madagascar. One can usually tell this plant from beharensis based on its distinctive leaf shape and a green or grayish color lacking any brown overtones except at the points on the margins. It is frequently misidentified.

Interesting caudiciform succulent from East Africa and Arabia with deciduous leaves and exotic extraterrestrial flowers. Variable. Often short-lived in cultivation; sensitive to excess water during rest periods. The flowers are flat greenish discs with long fingers around the edges. They make fascinating subjects for macro photography.

Depending on conditions, the growth of this plant is more or less seasonal, usually manifested by a big burst of leaves and new stem in summer, and the loss of most or all leaves in winter. In mild climates the plant does not require a winter rest. Like other Dorstenias, this species enjoys warmth. Do not overpot.

This is probably the most common species of Dorstenia in captivity. It owes that in part to its prolific behavior, especially a tendency to shoot seeds all around and then pop us as volunteers in other pots. It is self fertile but also able to hybridize with other Dorstenias; due to uncontrolled pollination and self-seeding, there may be some grey areas when trying to pin down IDs in this group.

This reddish plant is an old Dick Wright hybrid of 'Red Wing' (Edward Orpet) and 'Flammea'. A variegated version exists. This hybrid is distinct from a bluish white cultivar sharing the same name; this other plant is presumed to be a form of E. secunda and can be found in the database here: Echeveria (Echeveria secunda 'Aurora') .

This dramatic glaucous blue-white agave (a 2017 PDN release) has wide leaves with a pale midstripe and somewhat irregular, gnarly teeth. It originated as a Hans Hansen selection.

The nursery that released it uses the species name titanota for this cultivar, but this database treats 'X-Rays' as a probable hybrid (of titanota and/or oteroi). Those 2 species are very similar, and in fact they were at one point both considered the same species (titanota). But with the recent description of oteroi, all the plants with green leaves, pale midstripes, and gnarly corneous margins were given a new name. This cultivar has features of both species (glaucous color, but with a pale midstripe and corneous margins).

More about the subject here:

The thread "Agave titanota and oteroi in the database" in Cactus and Succulents forum

Glaucous green rosette succulent with yellow, tubular or cup-shaped flowers. Leaves may be pale bluish green to whitish green, depending on exposure. They are numerous and easily detached from the stem. Inflorescences may be terminal (the growth center turns into an inflorescence) and/or lateral (sideways inflorescences coming out of leaf axils). This hybrid was formerly known as a xGraptoveria. The xSedeveria parentage is presumed based on flowering behavior. The flower is pale yellow and roughly tubular (closed, like an Echeveria) but the petals are separate when the flower opens (unlike the imbricate petals of Echeveria flowers) and the terminal flowering behavior is decidedly unlike most Echeverias.

This cultivar is sometimes confused with a Dudleya. Among other differences, the leaves detach easily, while Dudleya leaves are fixed firmly to the stem.

This plant seems to be moody, shattering easily if not carefully handled, and collapsing rapidly in the face of environmental changes (eg. strong sun) that exceed its tolerance. Given decent care, it will grow incredibly fast, going from a small, barely rooted offset to a full size rosette flowering in every direction in about a year. The relative abundance of branches means that terminal flowering is not a life-ending event, and cuttings root incredibly fast given strong light and a bit of protection from direct midday sun.

Small succulent with leafy, glaucous rosettes and flat, bright yellow flowers. Stems may grow relatively long over time, first upward and generally downward later on. This is presumed to be a hybrid of two Mexican plants, Graptopetalum paraguayense and Sedum pachyphyllum, and it has intermediate features. The leaves may vary quite a bit in color from glaucous green to glaucous blue with lots of pink or peach highlights, depending on conditions.

This hybrid is also known as "Darley Sunshine," among other names in the trade.

A xGraptoveria is an intergeneric hybrid between Graptopetalum and Echeveria, two closely related genera from Mexico and elsewhere in the Americas. These plants are soft-leaved rosette succulents. A number of popular hybrids in this group have glaucous pink or glaucous white/blue leaves.

A xGraptoveria flower can often be distinguished from Echeveria by the stamens arching outside the petals when the stigma is receptive. This Graptopetalum feature tends to appear in the hybrids between these genera.

A xGraptoveria flower can be distinguished from Graptopetalum based on its shape: xGraptoverias have tubular or cup-shaped flowers, not the flat (open) ones of Graptopetalum.

Spiny columnar cactus with large white flowers. Extremely easy and relatively common in cultivation. A well behaved landscape plant, somewhat unstable once it gets to be a few feet tall, but sideways or broken stems will branch and generate more vertical growth. Flowers open around sunset and last a few hours into the next day; separate plants will often coordinate their blooming and flower on the same night. Fruit does not always follow flowering, but when it does (I suspect the plant is self fertile) it's delicious. The fruit breaks open when ripe and has white flesh and small black seeds.

A single stem of a couple feet in length can be segmented and the pieces used to start several new plants (just make sure you keep them right side up). Or a smaller cutting can be turned into several stems in relatively short order by serial decapitation. This plant seems to have better stability (at least in a relative sense) when multiple stems are planted close together. It will stretch pretty quickly and lose a lot of stability if it's not growing in the sun.

10-15 ribs, 1 central spine, 8-10 radial spines. From Argentina.

Small succulent with fat, glaucous (bluish or pinkish/purplish white) leaves in relatively loose rosettes to 3-4 inches wide. Reddish flowers are tubular and obscured by sepals. Stems grow up to 12 inches or longer, starting out upright and sprawling sideways over time. They may have a few branches at the base.

Relatively common in cultivation. Easily propagated from leaves and cuttings. Best color with strong light.

Found in Hidalgo, Mexico at altitudes of 4-6,000 feet. Similar to P. oviferum from San Luis Potosí, which tends to have thicker, more convex leaves.

Ornamental smallish Echeveria with lots of fine white hairs on the leaves and red flowers (also with fine hairs). Rosettes reach up to about 6 inches wide and stems to 6 inches or more tall, but they are slow growing. From Puebla, Mexico. This former species of Echeveria has been lumped with pulvinata, along with a separate white-haired variety, Echeveria (Echeveria pulvinata var. frigida) . It can be distinguished from other varieties of pulvinata by its thicker, narrower leaves and different chromosome number. An excellent choice for bonsai, when grown right, due to its branching habit. Really striking in bloom.

2 or 3 of the images on this page are likely some other variety of pulvinata, because the leaves are the wrong shape.

Attractive bottle-shaped or shrubby Pachypodium from Madagascar with lots of branches and yellow flowers. Old plants are spectacular. Larger plants in cultivation are pricey.

Various subspecies of rosulatum have been named, with distinct geographical origins, growth habits, and floral features. Some of these subspecies have since been elevated to species level, but will be found in older publications under rosulatum. These include the low, wide Pachypodium bicolor (yellow flowers with a white tube); the low-bottomed Elephant's Foot Plant (Pachypodium cactipes) ; the spherical/bottle-shaped and few-branched Elephant's Foot Plant (Pachypodium gracilius) ; and the globose, short-stemmed Pachypodium makayense.

The CoL currently recognizes 2 subspecies of rosulatum: the wide, shrubby Pachypodium rosulatum subsp. rosulatum, from northwestern Madagascar, and the globose to bottle-shaped Pachypodium rosulatum subsp. bemaharense, from western Madagascar).

South African succulent with small leaves and long(ish) stems that grow upright at first, like little towers, then later sprawl all around, to about 2-3 feet long in old age. The leaves are green with red edges in strong light, appearing in opposite pairs that are joined at the base. Flowers are tiny, yellow, numerous and terminal; inflorescences should be removed after flowering to maintain a good appearance. Branches may appear at the base or higher up, and branching is a typical consequence of flowering.

This plant is common and extremely well behaved in cultivation. Stems can be induced to branch profusely at a young age by beheading, and a cutting may root and double in size within 3 months. Start several stems in the same pot for the fullest look early on. A multi-stemmed plant may be kept in a 10 inch pot for life. Vulnerable to attack by scale insects. Strong light is important. Best appearance in full sun (in mild climates).

Small, branchy Aeonium. Leaves are green (turning yellow or red with stress) and sticky and bear many fine hairs. Flowers are yellow, usually in summer, on a very short inflorescence.

The juice in the leaves is believed to relieve the burn associated with Euphorbia sap, though I don't know of any evidence that supports this.

There are 2 named varieties, one from northern Tenerife (Aeonium lindleyi subsp. lindleyi) and one from eastern Gomera (Aeonium lindleyi subsp. viscatum) in the Canary Islands. The former has stiffer stems, more leaves, and more closed rosettes. The latter may be confused with A. goochiae.

This variable species was one of a handful formerly known as Greenovia, which were merged with Aeonium based on DNA analysis. Like the others in this group, its floral glands do not produce nectar. It is found on four of the Canary Islands. Leaves are glaucous blue-green. Rosettes are solitary or more often branching in cultivation, reaching 3-10 inches wide maximum. Rosettes are cup-shaped and close in on themselves during drought and summer. Seasonal differences in shape can be quite dramatic. Flowers are bright yellow, with about 30 parts (much more than most common Aeoniums in cultivation).

Very attractive small, solitary Echeveria with a distinctive leaf and rosette shape. Plants reach up to about 4 inches wide and grow a very short stem. The dense rosette and nearly stemless habit is perhaps most similar to E. agavoides. Old plants may eventually offset. This species is typically grown from seed or from leaves (though the compact nature of the rosette tends to make it hard to get leaves off intact, as is the case with agavoides). This species shows dramatic changes in posture as well as leaf shape and color when subjected to drought stress, or suffering from root problems.

Leaves are dark gray-green to reddish or yellowish with lots of whitish flecks, to the point where it's not clear what the base color of the leaves actually is. Are they white? Green? Red? Yellow? These variations are genetic and also influenced by exposure (lots of sun or stress brings out reddish colors and highlights). The flowers are really petite but quite pretty and excellent subjects for macro photography. The sepals are patterned like the leaves, the petals are pinkish red with yellow tips and interior.

From Puebla and Oaxaca. Distributed as ISI 521 (1967), 1077 (1978), 1645 (1986). A parent of various hybrids.