Neoporteria gerocephala OR Eriosyce senilis

Like so many cacti, names can be many. Neoporteria gerocephala is the name on the tag and the name I will catalog it under. The origin of Neoporteria gerocephala is the Valley of Rio Chapoa in Chile located in South American. It is a solitary cacti with a dense covering of spines, it hybridizes easily in habitat and cultivation. The body is purplish and globose to a short columnar shape, 2 1/2"-7" tall, 2"-3" in diameter. The spines are very dense, glassy, variable in color from blond/white, yellow, brown to almost black, with darker tips; straight to strongly curled and tangled, some hairlike soft and flexible, other needle-like and stiff, of variable length, obscuring the plant body and becoming longer with age. Tubular bright colored flowers in the spring being 1"- 2"in length. Will tolerate full sun to light shade, but extremely prone to root rot, needs good drainage.

I will call you Nova...........

EUPHORBIA HORRIDA
"NOVA"

Picked up this Euphorbia the other day, once again the color is amazing. Very pale, chalky, ghost-like, also named the African Milk Barrel. This one is in a 4" pot and I have another larger specimen that is about 6" tall. When I think of it I will take a picture and post in the blog. If you would like to read about the E. horrida, click on the name for an earlier posting.

Stone Faced

LITHOP

Derived from the ancient Greek words
lithos meaning "stone," and ops meaning "face"

This is the only collection of Lithops that I have, they are very charming. I will have to look into adding more to the collection. Kara Nursery offers a great selection if you are looking for something special to add to your own collection.


Lithops are found across wide areas of Namibia and South Africa, as well as small bordering areas in Botswana and Angola, from sea level to high mountains. They are perennial plants which develop a new pair of leaves each year. The leaf markings of any one particular plant change very little from year to year, and no two plants have markings exactly alike. They begin growing during the fall, continue throughout the winter and into the spring. In late spring or early summer, the plants will begin to go dormant. If a plant does not flower the first year you have it, it is perhaps not quite old enough. Lithops usually must be three to five years old before they begin flowering which will be a spicy-sweet scent and white or yellow in color.

In Honor of Danger Garden...........

PACHYPODIUM GEAYI

"Madagascar Palm"

What an awesome looking plant, the structure is amazing. Looking similar to a palm but not even close in the plant kingdom. This looks like a plant that would be in the Danger Garden because of the spines. It is stated that all parts are poisonous if ingested. P. geayi comes from the Southwestern area of Madagascar, has a metallic grey trunk, thin grey-green leaves with a bright pink mid-rib. Bloom time is any time of the year on a plant that is at least 6 feet tall. Flowers are white or near white with a yellow throat and lightly scented. A deciduous tree that can reach a height of 15 feet. This will be a great addition to the patio next Spring. It is planted in a 6" pot, about 18" tall and the leaves extend out about 2 feet.

Baby Pickle?

This little gem was a present from good friends. Some websites call it a Pickle Cactus.......that's one of the dumbest comments. The tag reads Euphorbia Horrida Hybrid. Love the colors of this plant, I think it will live happily at Death Valley Shack. The pot size is 2 1/2".

EUPHORBIA HORRIDA HYBRID
Euphorbia derives from Euphorbus,
Greek physician of king Juba II of Numidia

Hybrids of Euphorbia horrida are very common. The hybrids involves several different species (often resulted from accidental crosses) and are widely propagated for their quality. They are a very strong and easy to grow spiny succulent that looks a lot like an American cactus and will readily form large clumps. They are extremely variable due to their hybrid origin and have many varieties and forms. Many of the plants sold are actual hybrids. If you are looking to add any Euphorbias to your collection remember they are poisonous and need to be handled with care. It is a pretty easy plant to manage, grows well in a very good draining material and isn't picky about soil. The area of South Africa (lower Great Karoo) where the E. horrida plant is native from receives rains in both winter and summer, so it can be watered moderately all year around (except in the coldest month of the winter as it rot easily especially if over wet ) During the summer, they enjoy average feeding and watering.

A Clean Greenhouse!!!!!!!

What a job..............I spent Monday and Tuesday evening and all of Wednesday afternoon cleaning Death Valley Shack. Moving all the plants, wiping the benches down, spraying all the spider webs away, and inspecting the plants for PESTS.

I only had one that I needed to dispose of and two I had to spray down with Death Valley Shack Elixir (if it does not cure ya, it just might kill ya), I hope it works. I HATE MEALYBUGS! The greenhouse looks so nice now, ready for Fall and Winter.

Its always a good idea to clean a greenhouse at least a couple times a year. It is a good way to inspect plants and the surroundings to make sure you do not have any surprises down the road. DID I MENTION I HATE MEALYBUGS?

Also moved all the big specimen cactus from the patio, since cooler weather is here. I wanted to have it done and not have to do it later since we are now starting into the rainy season. If we get hit with an early frost I do not have to worry about those plants.

So now that it is done, I can sit back, relax, and add to the collection.

Okay it is more pink

Just a quick posting of the Gymnocalycium mostii. I was able to catch the flower open and it is more pink than I thought. The color is lush, that can be said? If you look close there is another bud below this flower and upon close examination I have found three other buds that are forming. YEAH!!!!!!!!

Gymnocalycium Mostii

Love those Gymnos, (can one have to many, but what is to many?).........I purchased this G. mostii from Kara Nursery at the Oregon Cactus and Succulent Society Sale at Portland Nursery on Stark St. in July. This plant is about 6+" wide and about the same height. And of course it had the bud when I purchase it, one of the reason it was added to the collection. It is usually a weakness when a Gymno is setting flower buds. I have not had the chance to see the flower open, since I'm at work during the day. Maybe I'll get to see it tomorrow if the flower is still in good shape.
The flower color is listed as pink, but to me its a little more on the apricot side. G. mostii is from the area of Córdoba in Argentina where it grows among grasses in the mossy cracks and cavities in rocky cliffs. The plants in habitat are different from its neighbors. Some have strong spines others weak, curly, straight, long or short ones and in all different combinations.

They have been described as solitary, but they can also form groups with age. It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties. Water regularly in summer and keep this plant almost dry in winter at a minimum temperature of 32 degrees.

Blooming Gymnocalycium

Have been waiting for this little beauty to bloom. Love the way the flower bud is puffed up like a little balloon. Then when it opens it is a beautiful satin yellow. It is marked Gymnocalycium bruchii, but after looking up more information bruchii flowers are mostly pink or maybe white. Nothing about yellow flowers........But the flower is still pretty.

From the Greek words

gymnos meaning "naked"

kalyx meaning "bud"

Gymnos live in various habitats and elevations in Argentina, part of Uruguay, Paraguay, southern Bolivia and part of Brazil which is the South-Eastern part of South America. The largest of this genus may achieve 7 inches in height and 12 inches in diameter, while most of the species stay well under 5 inches in height and diameter. This small size have relatively easy care requirements making them very popular in cultivation. These flowers are naked without any spines, wool, or bristles. In all species, they are smooth and scaled, resembling the tips of young asparagus shoots. Nearly all species have white, cream-colored or pale-pink flowers, while a few will have dark red or yellow. Flower size is moderate and typically flowers are 1 to 1.5 inches wide. While flowers come easy and at an early age on Gymno plants, they usually need high-heat to open fully and thus do much better in a greenhouse.

Wolverine Barrel

FEROCACTUS EMORYI
SUBSPECIES RECTISPINUS

Fero from Greek meaning "fierce"

The newest addition to the Death Valley Shack collection.
The barrel cactus is 8" wide with 4" spines and planted in a 10" pot.

Always cylindrical or barrel shaped and are usually among the largest cacti of the North American deserts. All members of the barrel family have prominent ribs and are fiercely armed with heavy spines. In some species, one or more central spines are curved like a fishhook, accounting for the common name Fishhook Barrel Cactus. The younger plants of the Emoryi cactus have colored spines, often a purple hue, and very few that are strongly crosshatched ridges. The very long central spines are only slightly flat and not hooked. Growing at an elevation of 1,500 to 3,500 feet in the Sonoran Desert of Pima and Yuma counties of Arizona, as well as down south into Mexico. Reaching a height of 8 feet and flowering in July and August with yellow, orange, or maroon flowers.

Echinocereus rigidissimus var. rubispinus

"RUBY RAINBOW"

Mexico
"Northern Sonora, North-Western Chihuahua"

I like the look of this cactus, the spine coloration is very pretty. If I allowed this plant to have more sun, the spines would develop into a deep raspberry color. It is not one of the easiest of cactus to grow due to them being so prone to root rot from over-watering. One of the most interesting facts about this cactus is that it will take temperatures in the teens for a short period. No central spine is on the areole. Prefers soil poor in lime and usually acidic. Beautiful bright pinkish-red or magenta or red flowers with white throats are huge, up to 4" wide. Blooms in ring on the crown of the stem in spring. This plant is in a 3" pot.

Gymnocalycium achirasense var. orientale

After looking thru my many books and viewing websites,I believe this to be a Gymnocalycium achirasense var. orientale. I'm very sure I'm correct, but I would not bet the greenhouse on it. As always the flowers are amazing.........I moved this plant from Death Valley Shack to the kitchen table to enjoy the flowers!

Gymnocalyciums in habitat are found in South-Eastern South America in various environments and elevations.

The Gymno. achirasense grows in Argentina in the foothills of the city of Cordoba. The variety name "orientale" means that it lies in the most eastern part of the habitat. Achirasense is a (usually) solitary cactus, flattened or globular, dark-green, grey-green to olive green, 2"-3" in diameter up to 2" in height, but in cultivation it can become 4" high (or more) over the years. 10-12 spines which are stout and aggressive, but usually fewer in young plants, bent against the body with a rib count of 12-15. Central spines are usually absent or they have 1 erect. The flowers are some of the largest in this genus, often growing larger than the plant, whitish, pale pink to lavender, with a darker mid-strip.The cultivation of this plant as well as other Gymnocalyciums is simple. They are summer growers, water regularly in summer, keep rather dry in winter. They will flourish in full sun (not direct) or light shade. The Gymnocalyciums are one of the easiest of the cacti to grow, to have flower and can flower at an early age.

Mammillaria spinosissima cv. Un Pico

There is a blog entry on this same plant from October 21, 2010. I do not want to bore anyone with the info regarding this plant. Just wanted to share the flowers that are in bloom right now. The color is an amazing purple red..........

Cactus Garden

Click on photograph to enlarge for a better view

I purchased this photograph at the Rose City Collectors Show this last weekend. Love the collection of plants in this person's yard. Quite a nice group of cactus and succulents. There is a nice size Ferocactus on the right side of the photograph. Talk about a drought tolerant yard. Found it to be interesting to share.

Mammillaria spinosissima

RED-HEADED IRISHMAN

One of first cactus before Death Valley Shack was built. Actually there are twin plants in the pot, but this is the one blooming. Nice pink blooms against the reddish-copper needles. The flowers are fashioned as a ring around the apex of the plant. The Mammillaria spinosissina comes from the Guerrero area of Mexico. Easy to grow and self fertile so it produces its own seeds. Cylindrical plants up to 8 to 12 inches in height and about 4 inches wide.

Bloomin' again

NOTOCACTUS HASELBERGII

This is the same little Scarlett Ball cactus blooming again that I posted about in December. The dried flower in the picture is from the December blooming. This is the cactus that has the seeds on it and I'm going to see if I can get them to sprout.

Black Chin Cactus

Gymnocalycium eurypleurum
This specimen is planted in a 2 1/2" pot.

Coming from a small barren, inhospitable corner of North Paraguay almost up to the border to Bolivia called Cerro Leon. Always grows solitary, it is a variable low growing species especially for spination. (Some plants have minimal spination while others seem quite heavily armed). Glossy green, dull olive-green to brownish, flattish globular (mature plants may become slightly short columnar) 2 1/2" to 6" across, with a somewhat sunken apex.
Stout, awl shaped spines are glassy white to light-brown in clusters of about 7 mostly straight up to 1/2" to 1 1/2" in length, very symmetrical, and tending to curve upwards, away from the body of the cactus. No obvious central spine. The 1 or 2 central spines when they exist are the same length.
Flowers are mostly near the apex, bell-shaped, pure white or white with a hint of lilac, about 1 1/2" in length and diameter. Inner petals are white to light pink, outer petals are a light purple color with a dark purple center strip. Filaments and style are white and flowers freely throughout the Summer. As with most Gymnocalycium, it is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties.

Thelocactus hexaedrophorus

"Hexaedrophorus" comes from the Greek
"hexa" = six and "hedra" =plane, seat
and "phoros" = carrying, for the six angled tubercles.

A solitary and quite variable cactus with flattened stems from San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Zacatecas areas of Mexico. Many local forms are known, often formally described, that differ in stem, spine or flower morphology. Because of the large variability of the species in the whole distribution area, none of these are recognized today. Depressed or globose, bluish , olive-green, or greyish-green eventually tinged in pink or purple, 2-5" tall , 8" in diameter (eventually grows a little taller in cultivation). Spines are usually strong and variable in length depending on the plant often difficult to distinguish as centrals and radials. Flowers are silvery-white or rarely pinkish with more or less magenta midribs, up to 10 in diameter. Easy to cultivate but very slow growing. The plant in the collection is planted in a 4" pot.

Astrophytum asterias

Sea Urchin or Sand Dollar Cactus
These four plants are in a 4" pot.

The Astrophytum asterias is a popular spineless cactus. Solitary globular cactus, up to 6 inches in diameter and 6 to 8 ribs. In the wild area of Northeastern Mexico (Nuevo León, Tamaulipas) and southern Texas it is almost extinct, mostly due to habitat destruction. It decreases in size in the wild when lacking water and might be covered with dust during the dry season. The rain makes it swell and washes it, making it ready to enjoy the sunlight. Little water, subject to root rot, keep very dry in winter. Seeds germinate rapidly and some cultivars are grafted for faster growth. Can take up to 6 years to bloom in summer at irregular intervals. The 2 inch wide flowers are yellow with a red center, and sweet scented. They are followed by spineless greyish-red fruits. Plants generally start blooming when they exceed one inch in diameter.

'Super Kabuto' is a Japanese cultivar with extremely abundant flecking. The white flecking is very variable from clone to clone. Be sure to click on the link and take a look at some of these beautiful plants that are being created. You will want to add a couple to your collection, but be careful they are very expensive.

Narrow Leaf Century Plant

Agave Striata
This plant is in a 3" pot.

Hailing from the Sierra Madre Orientale mountain range in northeast Mexico. Easy to grow century plant looks quite different from the wider leaf types with its narrow, rounded, grey-green, knitting needle-like leaves that are quite stiff and delightfully painful.....Be sure to have your friends admire this plant closer. The initial rosettes will become 18" tall x 3' wide, but after the 8' tall flower stalks finish in midsummer, the rosette branches and continues to grow, eventually creating a stack of porcupine-like balls. I have read reviews of some people growing this outside in a zone 7, if kept dry. This little baby is staying in the Death Valley Shack, not putting this plant out till late Spring.

Euphorbia resinifera

Resin Spurge

Collection plant is in a 6" pot.

Native to Morocco, where it grows on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains in the surroundings of Marrakesh. It is a dense succulent shrub growing to 25" tall, forming multi-stemmed cushion-shaped clumps up to 1" wide. Stems are erect, succulent, 4 sided (almost square) that look superficially like a cactus. Light green to glaucous blue color, depending upon light. Brown, short, sharp spines in pairs on the angles of the ribs, spaced about 1/2" apart up the stem. As with all Euphorbias when a plant gets damaged it exudes a thick white milky sap known as latex. This latex (resin) is poisonous and contains some of the most potent irritants known to man.

Echinocereus pectinatus var. rigidissimus

Comb Hedgehog

The plant from the collection is planted in a 3" pot.

Discovered in the Sierra Oscura area of Chihuahua, Mexico. Now includes southwestern Arizona to Maverick County, Texas, at elevations upto 4,500 ft. Plants are usually solitary, globose to cylindrical, 2 1/2" to 12" in height and 1 1/2" to 4 1/2" in width. Body obsured by spines without a central spine and flattened against the stems. Spines are comblike in their arrangement and often interlace. The spine colors range in white, pink, red, yellowish and brownish. Flowers are borne at the sides, funnelformed, and brilliant red to magenta with white throats. In size they are about 2 1/2" long and about 2 1/2" to 3 1/2" diameter.