Gymnocalycium cardenasianum

This is one of the other plants I purchased out of the four at the OCSS this last weekend. Besides Agaves, Gymnocalyciums are my 2nd favorite succulent to collect and I have a number of them in the Death Valley Shack.   

Gymnocalycium cardenasianum

Origin is southern Bolivia and has been classified by some as a subspecies of G. spegazzinii. The spines are long and eagle claw like. The growth is to a width of 7 1/2" and a height of about 11". Flowering is in July or June and white to pink in color.   

New Gymno from the OCSS

Friday was the kick off of the three day sale that the Oregon Cactus & Succulent Society is having at the Portland Nursery 5050 SE Stark location. The sale will be during the hours of the nursery. If anyone has the chance go by and see a great selection of cactus and succulents for sale. Plus some of the members have brought a few specimen plants from their private collection for display.

Gymnocalycium andreae v. dopianum

This Gymnocalycium is one of the plants I purchased from Luther of Kara Nursery.

It is only about 1/2 inch wide.

OCSS Sale

Last Saturday and Sunday the Oregon Cactus & Succulent Society had their annual June sale at the Division St. Portland Nursery. There will be another sale in July on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd at the Stark St. location. I always like to see what there is to purchase, do some admiring, and to visit with Luther of Kara Nursery and also writes the Oregon Cactus Blog. The photos below are the plants that I purchased from him for new additions in my collection in the Death Valley Shack.

Mammillaria huitzilopochtli  

Lithop bromfieldii var. insularis

Lithop schwantesii

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.

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.

New Stunning Barrel

This is quite the new barrel cactus for my collection. I purchased it from Luther of Kara Nursery at a sale held at Portland Nursery during the weekend of July 16th to the 18th by the Oregon Cactus and Succulent Society . Planted in a 10" pot and its about 8" across and about 14" tall. Has a beautiful blue-green cast with golden needles. Luther had no idea what genus or species it is and I'm looking through all my books, not having much luck. It will be great to find out the actual genus someday.

Gymnocalycium pflanzii var. lagunillasense

I have had this Gymno for a couple of years and love the flowers it puts out. A very pale pink with a raspberry center. The Gymno is in a 6" pot so you have an idea as to how big the plant is. I purchased it from Kara Nursery, located here in Portland, Oregon. Kara Nursery is an internet and mail order nursery only and not open to the public (that is why I had provide the link). I'm lucky that they set-up at certain sales during the year here in Portland and Luther and his wife Lynn-Marie are also customers at the store I work at.

Gymnocalycium pflanzii comes from South America in the areas of north Argentina and south Bolivia. The genus name comes from the Greek for "naked calyx" referring to the flower buds bearing no hair or spines. The growth habit is neither solitary or slowly clustering and the shape is globose. Having 4-15 ribs, sometimes more, usually broadly rounded, often spiraling and at times tuberculate. Often with "chins" just below the areoles, areoles large and with spines. Gymnos are among the most popular cacti for collectors and hobbyists.