Desert Beauties

This winter took out several of our trial barrel cactus, but despite the losses, we’ve still got a good selection of survivors. Peak flowering season is late April through late May, so below are a few that we’ve manage to photograph during that period. The key for growing barrel cactus in cold wet climates is excellent winter drainage and bright sun. There are many genera to choose from, as you’ll see below.

Coryphantha scheeri is a Chihuahuan desert species that ranges from Texas south into Northern Mexico.

Coryphantha scheeri

Coryphantha macromeris ssp. runyonii is a sea level species that’s only found on both sides of the Rio Grande River, which divides the United States and Mexico.

Coryphantha macromeris ssp. runyonii

Echinocereus coccineus is native to much of the Southwestern US. This seed grown collection hails from Hudspeth County, TX.

Echinocereus coccineus

Echinocereus x roetteri is one of our favorites. This naturally occurring hybrid between Echinocereus coccineus and Echinocereus dasyacanthus has flower colors that range through the entire rainbow spectrum. This is a stunning purple flowered form, we grew from seed from Pecos. County, TX.

Echinocereus x roetteri purple flowered form

Echinocereus palmeri is another Chihuan Desert species from Northern Mexico.

Echinocereus palmeri

Echinocereus papillosus var. angusticeps stradles the Texas/Mexico line. Our plants sailed through our 11F winter.

Echinocereus papillosus var. angusticeps

This beautiful clump of Echinocereus reichenbachii var. baileyi was grown from seed from a population in Granite, Oklahoma.

Echinocereus reichenbachii var. baileyi

Gymnocalycium deeszianum hails from south of the Equator in the Cordoba Province of Argentina. Unlike most of the previous cactus, which tolerate or prefer alkaline soils, gymnocalycium prefer acidic soils.

Gymnocalycium deeszianum

Notocactus floricomis is another superb performer from Argentina

Notocactus floricomis

Notocactus x hertonis is from a Mike Papay cross of the pink flowering Notocactus herteri and the yellow-flowering Notocactus ottonis.

Notocactus x hertonis

Finally, Notocactus x subteri is another superb Mike Papay hybrid of the pink-flowering Notocactus herteri and the yellow-flowered Notocactus submamulosus.

Notocactus x subteri

More pricks

It’s been quite a floral extravaganza this spring in the dryland garden sections. Here are the latest of our flowering barrel cactus that have bloomed recently at JLBG. All of our cactus are growing outside without any winter protection in our zone 7b garden. The key for most is simply good soil drainage.

Coryphantha sulcata
Echinocereus coccineus
Echinocereus papillosus var. angusticeps
Echinocereus reichenbachii var. baileyi
Echinocereus stoloniferus
Echinocereus x roetteri
Echinopsis ancistrophora
Escobaria dasyacantha SB601
Escobaria vivipara var. neomexicana
Lobivia atrovirens var. ritteri
Lobivia haemantantha
Lobivia thionantha
Notocactus apricus
Notocactus floricomus
Notocactus x subluteus (submammulosus x roseoluteus)
Trichocereus 20-07 (‘Big Time’ x Iridescent Watermelon’)

Winter Pricks

Most hardy cactus have the good sense to wait until spring to flower, but not Notocactus haselbergii. This gem, which hails from Southern Brazil, started to bloom the first of March, and will continue on and off most of the summer. It has thrived for several years in our crevice garden.

New Notocactus

Several of our volunteers have dabbled with cactus breeding, so here is one of the hybrids we’re currently enjoying at JLBG, thanks to the creative efforts of Mike Papay. The top image is the female parent, Notocactus ottonis (yellow). The middle image is the male parent, Notocactus herteri var. roseoluteus (pink). The bottom image is the new hybrid, Notocactus x hertonis (peachy orange).

Notocactus ottonis
Notocactus herteri var. roseoluteus
Notocactus x hertonis

And the pricks are off…

Yes, cactus flowering season has begun at JLBG with our two earliest specimens. Both Notocactus hasselbergii from Argentina and Pediocactus simpsonii from the Western US are the first two to bloom each season. We should have an incredible cactus flowering this year, which should still be in full swing for our spring Open Nursery and Garden days.

Notocactus hasselbergii

Hardy Cactus…thoughts

We’ve got a thing for hardy cactus in the garden, but haven’t propagated many to offer yet. One of our many favorites is Notocactus apricus.  Above is our 17 year old clump in the garden, which is 4″ tall x 15″ wide.  We’ve grown a few from seed, but are curious how many folks might consider purchasing one?  We’ve only been to 7F since 2000, so we don’t know if it will take colder temperatures or not.  

Visitors to our spring Open Nursery and Garden this year got to see the amazing Trichocereus ‘Irridescent Watermelon’ (bred by local cacti specialist, Mike Papay) in full flower (hardy so far to 7 degrees F).  Offsets are almost non-existent, so we decided to grow some from seed. Each plant will be different, but all should be quite nice.  So, if we offered these as a seed strain, would you purchase some, knowing each will be slightly different?

Hardy Cactus in bloom at Juniper Level Botanic Garden

 

For those who didn’t get to our Open Nursery and Garden last week, here are some of the hardy cactus you missed in the new Souto Garden section.  We’re passionate about hardy cactus, and have been so since we were hooked by a jumping cholla about 45 years ago.  I hope you enjoy the photos of this amazing group of plants.Echinocereus nivosus in flower2

Echinocereus nivosus

Echinocereus reichenbachii var. caespitosus

Echinocereus reichenbachii var. caespitosusEchinocereus triglochiditus v. mojavensis in flower

Echinocereus triglochiditis v. mojavensisGymnocalycium Bridal Showers2

Gymnocalycium ‘Bridal Showers’ – a Mike Papay hybrid

Gymnocalycium doppianum in flower (2)

Gymnocalycium doppianumGymnocalycium Paradise Pink8

Gymnocalycium ‘Panama Pink’ – a Mike Papay hybrid

Notocactus paucidentatus2

Notocactus paucidentatus

Notocactus submamulosus in flower

Notocactus submamulosusOpuntia basilaris v. aurea Golden Carpet

Opuntia basilaris v. aurea ‘Golden Carpet’Opuntia Claude Arno2

Opuntia ‘Claude Arno’Opuntia polycantha Crystal Tide

Opuntia polycantha ‘Crystal Tide’Opuntia polycantha v. hystracina SW Colorado

Opuntia polycantha var. hystracina

Opuntia sp. Little Monk in flower (3)

Opuntia ‘Little Monk’Opuntia sp. nov pink flowers

Opuntia sp. nov. pink flowersTrichocereus Big Time (T. bruchii MP hybrid

Trichocereus ‘Big Time’ (a Mike Papay hybrid of T. bruchii)Trichocereus Irridescent Watermelon3 (2)

Trichocereus ‘Irridescent Watermelon’ – a Mike Papay hybridTrichocereus sp. D26-55 in flower2Trichocereus bruchii