Desert Garden Succulents & Cacti

A cactuscape interplays a carpet of blue Senecio serpens, bright yellow Echinocactus grusonii and candelabra-like pasacana (Echinopsis pasacana or Trichocereus pasacana). From South America, pasacana resembles the native saguaro of the Southwest (Carnegiea gigantea); it also flowers nocturnally.

Read on for thirteen more succulent and cacti varieties grown at the Huntington.

[1] ALOE ‘HENRY HUNTINGTON’ close up reveals a dramatic golden-yellow inflorescence up to 6 feet tall. And it’s a repeat bloomer. Developed by the Huntington, the plant forms a showy single-headed accent 8 to 12 feet tall.

[2] ALOE MARLOTHII, from South Africa, with whorls of spiky leaves, produces canary-yellow or orange flowers adapted to bird pollination. Makes a 15-foot plant, good specimen for large pot or garden accent. Behind, Brazilian floss silk tree (Chorisia speciosa).

[3] AGAVE PARRYI VAR. PARRYI, with black awl-shaped spines at ends of pudgy gray leaves, can take the cold of Zone 7—it is native to the Chihuahuan desert. A slow grower to 30 inches in diameter, then after 25 to 35 years it sends up an elegant tree-like flower stalk.

[4] MATUCANA INTERTEXTA is a small globular cactus from Peru, with starry red flowers in spring. Grown outdoors at the Huntington, but is best as a pot plant. It does better in a coastal environment with cooler summers.

[5] ECHINOCACTUS GRUSONII is the famous golden barrel cactus. It thrives in full sun. Good rockery accent or great in a pot. Plant forms a barrel up to 2 feet across, eventually a mound of offsets up to 4 feet in diameter. Zones 7-10.

[6] LAMPRANTHUS AURANTIACUS, a popular ground cover in Southern California, is also useful as an accent or even a potted specimen. Sheets of golden-yellow flowers appear in late winter and early spring.

[7] DROSANTHEMUM HISPIDUM, a South African “mesemb,” is reported to grow outdoors in Colorado, but thrives as a full-sun, 8-inch-high ground cover in Zones 8-10. In late spring it is covered with a carpet of brilliant pink flowers. Not good for stabilizing hillsides, although frequently used there—its roots are too shallow to bind the soil.

[8] ECHEVERIA X IMBRICATA, introduced in the 1890s, is a sculptural heritage succulent with soft, pastel pinkish-blue leaves. Thrives in Zones 9 and 10 as a rockery plant in semishade. Becomes mound forming and can be propagated by offsets. Water when leaves become soft.

[9] KALANCHOE FEDTSCHENKOI makes a sprawling ground cover or pot plant in Southern California, where it takes light frosts. Cool temperatures add a pink blush to the leaves. If it gets rangy, replant with tip cuttings in fall or early spring.

[10] AGAVE VICTORIAE-REGINAE, Queen Victoria agave, forms a solitary ornately decorated rosette that grows up to 24 inches in diameter. Grow it as a rockery showpiece or a pot plant in Zones 8-10.Wait 35 to 45 years for it to flower.

[11] FEROCACTUS GLAUCESCENS, similar to the golden barrel (both from Mexico) but smaller and eventually offsets to form spiny clusters 2 to 3 feet across. Use as an accent or put in a pot.

[12] ALOE ‘SOPHIE’ is named for my daughter—both delightful and unpredictable! ‘Sophie’ the aloe is a repeat bloomer, a feature rare in aloes, and produces showy canary-yellow blossoms. Performs well in full sun and semishade. Takes temperatures in the high 20s.

[13] MAMMILLARIA HAAGEANA, a Mexican pincushion cactus, has tiny star-like pink flowers as early as February.