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Interesting medium-sized, spidery agave from the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico with narrow, recurved, rough-textured leaves bearing many fine teeth. Medium green to yellowish green. Relatively inoffensive, with no terminal spine. Slow growing. Solitary or offsetting behavior. Very striking in bloom (inflorescence to about 5 feet tall). Flowers lack a tube.

From the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Durango at 600-1700m, often on limestone cliffs. Common names: maguey huasteco or maguey araña. From a group with A. ellemeetiana and A. guiengola. May enjoy more protection than other agaves in cultivation. May (sometimes) live on after flowering, unlike most agaves.

Large green Baja California native Dudleya. Formerly known as a green form of Dudleya brittonii, now its own species, alongside D. reidmoranii (whose primary difference is its downward pointing flowers). Yellow or greenish yellow flowers point upward and attract hummingbirds.

Native to coastal NW Baja California, which has frequent fog, high humidity, cool temps, zero summer rainfall, and ~10" rain mostly from Dec-Mar. A sun worshipper in cultivation. Some southern forms branch dichotomously and form sprawling colonies. This branching may occur early or late in life, or on an ongoing basis. Branching behavior is passed on to hybrids. Flowers (but not leaves) may be somewhat glaucous.

Apparently self fertile, though also prone to hybridize with related species including brittonii, reidmoranii, candida. Self seeding in my container garden and a frequent contributor to garden hybrids. Hybrids with the lookalike reidmoranii have sideways pointing flowers.

Pachyphytum is a genus of classic leaf succulents from east-central Mexico. These plants are cousins of the Echeverias, with similarly shaped flowers. The flowers are tubular but usually hidden behind giant sepals and thus invisible from the side. They attract hummingbirds, and intergeneric hybrids are known with related Mexican plants.

The distinguishing feature of the genus is the little flaps on the inside of the flowers (scale-like appendages of the corolla lobes), though this feature is not unique to it (some Echeverias apparently have reduced ones). Most of the common Pachyphytums in cultivation are glaucous to one degree or another.

The former Pachyphytum cuicatecanum has very recently been moved to its own monotypic genus, Jeronimoa, based in part on genetic analysis.

Clump-forming spiny cactus with pinkish magenta flowers bearing pale or white throats. Stems grow from about 0.5 to 5 inches in diameter, reaching up to about 12 inches long, either upright or sprawling. They have 5-12 ribs (sometimes tubercular, sometimes not), 1-6 central spines per areole, 6-10 radial spines per areole. Fruit is green and spiny and edible.

Relatively common in cultivation. Rot prone if subjected to excess moisture. Lovely flowers. Reddish stress color on stems.

Widespread in east-central Mexico in the outskirts of Mexico City and the states of Mexico, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, and San Luís Potosí. Three recognized subspecies: Alicoche (Echinocereus cinerascens subsp. cinerascens) with stems 1.5 to 5 inches in diameter, bearing 6-12 ribs, found above 2000m; Alicoche (Echinocereus cinerascens subsp. septentrionalis) with stems about 2.5 inches in diameter and 6-8 ribs, from SLP and Zacatecas above 1200m; Alicoche (Echinocereus cinerascens subsp. tulensis) with stems 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter with 4-7 ribs, from Tamaulipas and SLP below 1200m. The former Echinocereus cinerascens subsp. ehrenbergii apparently is no more.

Smallish glaucous blue agave with a pale midstripe (pale bluish green or yellowish, depending on the exposure). Offsetting behavior, moderate growth rate, final rosette size 6-8". Probably good in a 10" container once it has formed a nice clump. Leaves have a rough texture. Best form and color in strong light, maybe best with some overhead protection in some climates.

Lovely small succulent, close relative of the Aeoniums, with highly branched stems and many small, furry leaves. A wonderful subject for close photography. May reach 8-10 inches wide at maturity. Flowers are yellow, with 8-9 (-10) petals.

From Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. This former species was recently made a variety of the generally smaller and denser tortuosum (purple/red-tinged leaves, 7-8 petals, also found on Lanzarote).

Short lived (maybe 2-3 years), flowering in profusion toward the end of its life. Very easy to propagate from cuttings. At least one lovely medial variegate exists. This plant does not seem to slow down in growth during summer, unlike several close relatives. Flowering may occur during summer or at other times.

Clumping highland aloe from Madagascar with narrow, spotted leaves and bell-shaped, orangey red flowers. Leaves have small bumps and small, soft teeth. Fat roots.

This species is similar to and has been confused with the slightly larger A. perrieri (also from Madagascar). They are part of a group of related smallish plants, with A. parvula and A. pseudoparvula, bearing bell-like or nearly bell-like flowers. Also in the ballpark: two species with white flowers, albiflora and droseroides.

Like some of the related plants, this species has been used in hybridization.

Dwarf succulent from Namibia and South Africa with fat, round leaves, branching stems, and a spreading growth habit. Tuberous roots. Pink/white flowers in summer. Propagated from cuttings (best in fall). An excellent choice for a smallish (~4 inch) container. Expect leaf loss in summer.

Often dichotomously branching subspecies of the smallish Mammillaria formosa. Tubercles with 6 (4-7) central spines; 20-24 white radial spines (sometimes none). Axils with wool. White flowers, red fruit. From Coahuila, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí.

Low, slow-growing cactus with dark stems that often contrast sharply with abundant white wool. Solitary (for a while) and then clumping by dichotomous branching and/or basal branching. Big tap root. Stems 3-4 inches wide. Axils with 2-3 central spines (gray with age), 2-6 white radial spines on young stems only. Flowers whitish or pale yellow, somewhat obscured; red fruit. From Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, Guanajuato, Querétaro.

Apparently this species has absorbed the former M. formosa subsp. pseudocrucigera (pink flowers), and some of the above description may not apply to this group.

The tumbleweed is both a symbolic plant of the American Southwest (especially when dead, uprooted, and rolling in the wind) and a much hated invader of dry gardens. It is not native to this hemisphere.

Tumbleweeds have a freakish ability to grow when there has been no rain for months. They grow a substantial tap root that complicates removal, because you kind of have to pull them to get rid of them. They have annoying spines that can make extended skin contact (especially with brown stems) a nasty experience. Use gloves, act early, and pull hard from the base.

As an annual, the tumbleweed has a short and fast life. When dead, and especially during strong wind events, they can travel some distance, spreading seed everywhere they go. The accumulation of tumbleweeds can lead to a serious fire hazard, especially since a dead plant has the perfect ratio of combustible material to air flow.

Solitary (for some time), then dichotomously branching Mammillaria with stems to 2.4 inches wide. Stem is glaucous green, bearing (0-)2 central spines, turning whitish with age; 14-18 white radial spines, the longest with black tips; and axils with wool and bristles. Reddish to pink flowers, red fruit.

Old plants may form spectacular multiheaded clumps.

From Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and Querétaro in north-central Mexico.

Small clumping Haworthia with tallish rosettes and leaves bearing many whitish, rounded tubercles. Rosettes may reach up to almost 5 inches in diameter (usually much smaller).

This species was formerly a subspecies and variety of the very similar, variable H. reinwardtii, which usually has more pronounced tubercles with flat (not rounded) tips. The ratio between stem diameter and leaf width is supposed to be diagnostic for these plants: H. coarctata about 1:1.7, H. reinwardtii about 1:1.2 (leaves much narrower relative to the stem width).

There are currently 2 named varieties in addition to the type: Haworthiopsis coarctata var. adelaidensis, with narrower (3cm) rosettes; Haworthiopsis coarctata var. tenuis with narrower rosettes (2.5cm) and longer stems (to 40cm). There is also a forma greenii (without tubercles).

Spiny succulent from Madagascar with relatively narrow stems growing up to 40 feet or more (in the ground after many years). Growth tends to be seasonal, speeding up in the summer and fall and slowing down in the winter (but not as strictly so as the related A. montagnacii, which has stouter stems and darker leaves).

A few details are shared in common with the similar-looking New World ocotillos (Fouquieria spp.), including seasonal growth, two types of deciduous leaves (in this case the first appearing with new growth, smaller and parallel to the ground; the second appearing from the base of the spines later on, parallel to the stem) and spines which largely protect them.

Relatively common in cultivation due to the ease with which it can be propagated from cuttings (and the branching which inevitably follows on the stump of the mother plant). Provide good drainage, strong light, and regular water while in active growth. Regular pruning (best done in spring) will favor a bushier, branchier, fuller growth habit.

Nice bumpy aloe hybrid with short raised lines on the leaf surface and irregular margins bearing fused groups of teeth. The base color is glaucous blue-green, but the texture tends toward orange or red, and the overall impression of a moderately stressed plant is orange. With serious stress the leaf base may turn a purplish color.

This aloe will grow a bit of a stem (becoming at least as tall as wide in a few years) with a tall rosette (leaves mostly alive). Pretty reddish flowers appear on and off year round, often on sideways growing inflorescences. Branches emerge from the base or from in between leaves higher up. Suitable for an 8 inch pot or larger, when it has grown a few offsets.

This plant is similar to a few other bumpy aloe hybrids. It differs from 'Vito' in size (bigger), leaf shape (flatter), and the regularity of the surface texture (more neatly arranged into short, bold lines, more widely spaced), as well as the flowers (inflorescence bears fewer branches, for one).

Small, densely clumping cactus forming flat-topped mounds. 0-2 straight, reddish brown central spines (usually none); 11-16 thin white radial spines. Pale yellow or white flowers. From Hidalgo and Querétaro in north-central Mexico. Stems break off easily and are easily rooted. An excellent container plant. Widely available. A great cactus for beginners, forgiving of mistakes, easy to propagate.

Much less common in cultivation than the type subspecies Mammillaria (Mammillaria vetula subsp. vetula) (1-2 central spines, 25+ radials).

Small, densely clumping cactus forming flat-topped mounds. 0-2 straight, reddish brown central spines; 11-25(-50) thin white radial spines. Pale yellow or whitish flowers. From Hidalgo, Guanajuato and Querétaro in north-central Mexico. Stems break off easily and are easily rooted. An excellent container plant. Widely available, easy.

Two subspecies are recognized: Mammillaria (Mammillaria vetula subsp. vetula) (1-2 central spines, 25+ radials) and the much more common (in cultivation) Thimble Cactus (Mammillaria vetula subsp. gracilis) (often 0 central spines, 11-16 radials).

The air plants (Tillandsia) comprise the largest genus in the bromeliad family, with nearly 700 species. These natives of the Americas are widely distributed from the southeastern US and northern Mexico through to Chile and Argentina. They absorb water and nutrients through the leaves. Many species lack roots; if roots are present, they serve an anchoring role only. Many species are pollinated by hummingbirds, with colorful bracts and flowers.

In cultivation these plants do not all enjoy the same treatment. Their needs will vary depending on your climate. The silvery plants tend to enjoy a lot of light, up to full sun in mild climates. They do best with good air flow and may not prosper in a closed environment like a terrarium, depending on the species. Some people dunk or soak their Tillandsias on a weekly basis (or more often). In our very mild, very humid climate they do well with a thorough sprinkling once or twice a week. It is important not to plant Tillandsias in soil, but to mount them on top of something else that drains quickly. Otherwise their lower parts will tend to rot. They are epiphytes or saxicolous (rock dwelling) in nature.

Solitary or often densely clumping cactus with globose, dark green stems to 0.8 inches wide. 1 hooked, yellow central spine with a dark tip. About 15 white central spines. Thick tap roots. Bright yellow, fragrant, spreading flowers; green to greenish brown fruit.

From Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí. Stems may catch on their hooked spines and detach easily.

Solitary or offsetting globose cactus from the Caribbean with stems to 3-4 inches wide, bearing densely wooly axils (the basis for the species name). Usually 1 central spine (not easily distinguished from radials); 6-13 yellow to brown radial spines. Relatively inconspicuous yellow flowers, red fruit.

Intolerant of cold. Woolier examples of this species are quite striking and make excellent subjects for close photography. Larger clumps make great landscape specimens.