Trichocereus bridgesii 'Monstrose'

Trichocereus bridgesii 'Monstrouse'

Given the common name in German Frauengluck or Women's Joy this small compact growing cactus has been in cultivation for many years and that common name is always a source of amusement for those who view the smooth cylindrical segments with their distinctive cleft for the first time. "Oh I see...."

it was formally known as Echinopsis lageniformis and may be given a further taxonomic shift given the current advances in plant molecular DNA.

The lower sections of this cactus have quite long spines which make repotting or weeding close by a minor problem but it is otherwise very hardy and decorative.

I grow some in larger pots so it has more room to show off its interesting form.

Epiphyllum anguliger, the rick-rack cactus

                    Epiphyllum anguliger

When this flowered a couple of months ago I didn't think to stick my nose up close to indulge in the scent. It was only after reading the perfume being described as 'delicious' by horticulturist Edward Kemp (1910-2012) (Yep he lived to 101) curator of the RBG Edinburgh from 1950 to 1971, that I knew I might now have to wait a whole year to experience that treat.

Kemp's description of this species is in his occasionally off kilter translation from the German of Das praktische Kakteenbuch in Farben by Walther Haage 1961 , 'Cacti and Succulents' Studio Vista 1963.

Apparently 'Epi' cactus have been around since 1689 when they were described by Dutch botanist Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738) at the Hortus Botanicus Leiden. Hence from him epi = upon and phyllum = leaf. 

Growing it gives the usual challenge of finding a sturdy enough, large enough container in which to place it. Branches grow every which way and arch down to ground level presenting that temptation to passing snails which they can hardly resist. While relatively small in root system, the branches carry quite a bit of weight and as the plants require a light free draining orchid style potting mix, it is worth placing some stones around the base of the plant to keep it from being wrenched out of the ground in windy conditions. Though I have grown it successfully from cuttings, many have succumbed to rot from over-wet conditions. So a spot with summer shade and a warm dry bright position over winter would suit it best, with the occasional dose of liquid fertilizer to keep it healthy.

Epiphyllum hybrid 'Ivan the Terrible'

 Epiphyllum hybrid 'Ivan the Terrible'

Not wishing to become a collector of these beauties I have settled for growing just a few of the hybrids as well as some of the species. When this one flowered a couple of months ago I was amazed how big the flower was and how luminescent it appeared to be having both bright red and fuchsia pink petals. While very easy to care for and undemanding as to watering, I am forever lifting up the pots which topple over in the slightest breeze. The whole plant becomes quite top heavy with its long arching branches and needs a strong support on which to grow. Resting against a tree trunk or placing them in a giant wire hanging basket may be the solution to positioning them in the garden. They prefer a spot which is semi shaded though I have seem them flower in full shade and even full sun though yellowing leaves are an indication of too bright a light.

 Mention should also be made of snails which are very attracted to the fleshy leaves and stems and their damage is noticeable for a long while afterwards.

Turk's Cap Cactus, Melocactus bahiensis

Melocactus bahiensis

Photo taken at a Cactus and Succulent Show. Not in my collection.

an Echinopsis

Echinopsis in flower this week

The long funnel shaped flowers of this cactus appeared this week and they held my attention for the two days they were open, reminding me a bit of a waterlily with some of that same fragile beauty that waterlilies have. With flowering over it will go back to being a nasty little brute covered in spines and loved by only a few.

The genus Echinopsis includes plants originating from the lowlands of northeastern Argentina, southern Brazil and Paraguay as well as higher elevation locations of Bolivia and Argentina.

Euphorbia enopla

 Euphorbia enopla (Euphorbiaceae)

Cactus for indoors? Certainly and this would be a good candidate as it only grows to about 1 metre. This is frost hardy species which originates from South Africa has very attractive long reddish spines which turn to black as they age. When I look at this specimen I can see that the side branches could be removed and used as propagation material to grow new plants thus changing the shape to a more central column.

Hibotan Moon Cactus

 Gymnocalycium mihanovichii 'Hibotan'

A friend gave me a couple of these brightly coloured cactus some time ago. I am never sure what to do with them as I think you need a lot of them planted together to really make a statement. They are very popular around Christmas time and appeal to youngsters and those who want something in their garden which is a bit of fun. (Nein est ist verkitschung!! I hear you say?) 
It's a hell of a long botanical name for this South American cactus and perhaps for this reason it rarely gets mentioned.They usually go by their Japanese cultivar name of 'Hibotan' or simply as a 'moon cactus' because of their bright colours and shape. As they don't have any chlorophyll , the green stuff necessary for growth, they are normally grafted onto a climbing cactus such as a Cereus species.  
 

Mini cactus garden

 Mammillaria species in flower now

I am always on the lookout for interesting containers or bowls in thrift shops which can be reused as decorative pots. Low flat bowls make good homes for groups of cactus and succulents or for bonsai 'forests' of miniature trees, while in cooler climates they make excellent scree gardens for alpine plants.

This ceramic casserole dish was planted out a few months ago with various cacti and some are just starting to come into flower. Cactus flowers always draw your eye as they are often extremely bright, though these are only at the bud stage and will probably turn more red than hot pink as they age. Handling cactus can always be a bit tricky as you do your best to avoid the spines. I always use a piece of folded newspaper wrapped around each plant as I position them and tamp down the soil around them with the handle of a small trowel once they are in place. Special soil mixes which contain plenty of grit are worth using for potting on and you will be rewarded with lots of flowers in the spring and a fairly low maintenance easy care garden.

The Blue Cactus, Piloscereus

 Pilosocereus species

I have had this blue cactus for years growing in a large pot. It is now about three metres tall and shows no sign of stopping growing .The roots have come away from the base of the pot and are spreading in all directions. For the first time it has produced a single flower which just appeared as a purple fig-like funnel shaped object projecting from the trunk. Around its base there are tufts of what looks like fur. The flower opened last night but was still open this morning to be captured by the camera. Pilosocereus cactus are native to Brazil and threatened with extinction in the wild due to habitat loss.

Zygocactus, Schlumbergera

 The "Zygoes" have been flowering their heads off for the past few weeks. They are one of those plants which come into their own for six weeks of the year and make a a big splash of flowers and then go to rest for the remainder of the year. All the showy hybrids are descended from two epyphitic species Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera russelliana which are native to South America and primarily Brazil. Like other epyphites they make good container plants and have low water and fertilizer requirements. Of course if you want a truly spectacular specimen it is worth giving it some fertilizer over the summer months before the buds start to form in autumn. Zygoes look good in hanging baskets or in pots with a narrow neck so that the flat sprawling leaves are able to splay out in all directions without being encumbered. There are lots of interesting coloured forms available from pure white to salmon pink, orange, red and peachy toned ones. They grow best in semi shade and can be rested when not in flower under trees and are able to cope with just occasional rainfall to survive well. The book below gives all the best detailed information on them and though it was published twenty years ago the cultivation notes and history on the genus is still valid and current.

Strange plant associations

 

Salvia 'Phyllis Fancy' with a Silver torch cactus Cleistocactus species

 When you live in a climate which is relatively benign it is possible to grow a really broad range of plants though this often makes for some strange plant combinations. These are a couple of examples I saw recently. Salvia 'Phyllis Fancy' is a hybrid shrub Salvia which is continually in flower until you give it a rest by pruning back hard in late winter. It is named for Phyllis Norris and it originated in the arboretum at the University of California Santa Cruz. It is a fairly tough plant and copes well with dry conditions so is perfectly at home clasping a clump of the silver torch cactus which originates in Bolivia.

 

Silver Birch, Betula pendula, with Spanish Moss, Tillandsia usneoides

This is a case of Scandinavia meeting the Florida everglades. Silver birch growing in warm climates invariable suffer from premature leaf drop. The leaves turn crispy very early in summer and are shed thus leaving a dead looking tree for months on end. I have driven past a very attractive grouping of birches for years; they were placed just so right and were quite mature in size. Then recently I saw them chopped up and laying in a heap on the nature strip. Perhaps the message has got out that they are a better cool climate tree. As for the Spanish moss it has had a great season and has tripled in size over recent months and is happy to grow on any tree limb it takes a fancy to.

Uebelmannia pectinifera subsp flavispina.

Uebelmannia pectinifera subsp flavispina

I have this gnarly old cactus growing in a large flat bowl and this year it has decided to flower brilliantly. It is native to Brazil and is noted for the golden yellow spines hence the sub-species name flavispina. I have small plants available for sale.

Beth Chatto's Patio

Pots on the patio at White Barn House,
Beth Chatto Garden and Nursery, Elmstead Market, UK.

I have been re-reading the garden books by Beth Chatto for some change of season inspiration.There is a bit of a chill in the air in the early morning and late afternoon and I noticed today some Freesias were poking their green shoots through the soil. In the meantime there will be more hot days to come if the forecast for this weekend is anything to go by, as the mercury is set to go over 30C again. As soon as the cool weather starts I want the heat again....
Beth Chatto was way ahead of her time when her book The Dry Garden was published in 1978. Now the term 'water-wise' has become part of our language and 'dry spell gardening' is something we are likely to face again in the coming years despite a reprieve after good summer rain. In The Dry Garden, which incidentally only has black and white photos, she gives a description of this group of pots and explains how she gained inspiration from seeing the colourful courtyards of France and Spain. This delightful combination of terracotta pots have been planted with ivy-leaved geraniums, daisies, succulents, agave and silver foliage plants Helichrysum petiolare and Centaurea. She writes 'By tucking in a plant or two of Helichrysum petiolare you can have a flamboyant display in no time at all, as this lovely foliage plant grows with great speed, not forsaking elegance, so that by August your tubs will be hidden beneath its silvered stems through which thread themselves your ivy-leafed geraniums.' She goes on to describe her cacti and succulents as being of ' subtle colours and varied textures ....some may be smooth as marble, in tones of blue, bronze, green or grey....and of all shapes and sizes, some making tall columnar pillars wreathed in silky hair and others rosettes the size of a wine tray.'

Cleistocactus tupizensis, Silver Torch Cactus

Cleistocactus tupizensis
Flower detail

The 'Silver Torch' is one of the easiest Cactus to grow and is reasonably fast growing, forming a small clump of several metre long stems after a few years. I grow mine in a large concrete pot as it is easier to control water requirements particularly over winter when too much rain can lead to its sudden demise.The small red flowers which are about 5cm long appear in early summer and look spectacular against the silver stems. This Cactus is native to Bolivia at an altitude of 2400m to 3600m. Plants are available from specialist Cactus Nurseries or it can be grown by seed or offcuts after they have dried off.

Pereskia aculeata 'Godseffiana', a leaf cactus

Pereskia aculeata 'Godseffiana' Lemon-Vine, Ramo de Novia

One thing you don't expect from a member of the Cactus family is a climber with colourful leaves.The leaves at this time of year turn a coppery rose colour and develop purple undersides and just to remind you that this plant is a cactus, thorns lurk under the lush foliage. The plain green form of this plant is found naturally in the Florida Keys, most of the West Indies, through Brazil, Venezuela and into Paraguay but is not recommended for Australian gardens in the sub-tropics because of its weed potential. I grow mine in a large pot and take cuttings at this time of the year which strike readily though growth can be slow to start off with. During winter I give it a rest like other cactus and lay off the water and fertilizer. It is good against a hot western facing wall or can be trained to grow up a tree.
2017 update: I occasionally have plants available for sale.

Cleistocactus winteri ,Golden Rat Tail Cactus

The Golden Rat Tail Cactus from Bolivia

Cleistocactus winteri syn Hildewinterera aureispina

 Cleistocactus winteri. is one of those easily grown cactus which needs to be in an elevated position or hanging basket to view it at its best.

It forms a mass of sprawling stems which are covered in a close network of golden coloured spines .This makes it a bit tricky to pick up and move about so you need to wear a bit of protective gear when doing so. Stem pieces which break off can be allowed to dry off and when placed in a sandy soil mix make rapid growth .It is an easy plant to grow.and best kept on the dry side over winter.
2017 update: I don't have any plants of it available for sale.

Echinocactus grusonii, Golden Barrel Cactus

Echinocactus grusonii

Winter started here this week with record low temperatures ,the first snow falls and a minus13C recorded on the mountains. Here on the coast it is not so bad but still a bit bleak and the first days of cold can be hard to get used to. So it is time to move most of my Cactus to a spot under the eaves of the house where they can rest out of the rain and take warmth from a wall which might heat up a little during the day.

The Golden Barrel Cactus is easy to grow and is one of the essential plants for anyone who wants to have a bit of a collection of cactus and succulents .It is fairly trouble free and it is possible to grow it in the ground if you can give it a really well drained soil mix. The largest one I have seen was about 90 cm high growing in a glasshouse and with a circle of yellow flowers around the top. You can buy seed of it fairly readily and the germination is good. I grew a batch of about 30 and was surprised at the different growth rates between individual plants. Potting them on can be a bit tricky, with all the spines to deal with, but I found that a band of folded newspaper wrapped around it seems to make it a bit easier to manoeuvre into and out of a pot.

Le Jardin Exotique ,Monaco

Cactus Flower (coussin de belle-mere)

The Jardin Exotique in the Principality of Monaco is one of the must see gardens to visit for those who are interested in cactus and succulents.

The idea for the garden began in the late 19th century under Prince Albert 1 who was keen to establish a garden for succulent plants which he greatly admired. Work commenced on the garden in 1913 ,though originally the garden was planted on the Rocher de Monaco ,in the old town of Monaco-Ville ,it was finally established on a site to the west of the town on the Corniche Road facing due south and protected from damaging north and western winds.The slope of the garden is at a 45 degree angle so this meant a long and slow construction process under the guidance of Louis Notari , with Prince Albert overseeing every step of the work.

Pockets were created in the rock face for planting, paths cut into the rock to twist and turn in all directions and even bridges were built over clefts in the rock. It is a marvel of landscape construction. Work on the garden continued until 1933 when it was inaugurated by Albert's son, Prince Louis II.

Today the Jardin Exotique is involved in conservation projects and in particular on the island of Madagascar which has an extraordinary flora of succulent plants.On the occasion of the celebration to mark 700 years of the Grimaldi Dynasty of Monaco, Madagascar benefited with the construction of a Visitors Centre being undertaken at Fianarantsoa. In 2004,the Bureau de la Cooperation of the International of the Monegasque Government established a joint project between the two countries in the field of protecting the ecosystem and safe-guarding biodiversity.

For more information email jardin-exotique@mairie.mc

http://www.cactus-co.com/