Cacti are members of a plant family known as the Cactaceae, and are characterised by their particular form of flower, fruit, seed, and other features. They are closely related to, and have their origins in, the Portulacaceae.
The interesting arrangement of the spines, together with a great diversity of form and often spectacular flowers, makes them especially popular with collectors.
Apart from the epiphytic genera, they do best in a sunny position, watered during the growing season from early April till September about every 10 days on average.
ACHARAGMA Small, soft-bodied plants standing between Pediocactus and Lophophora.
roseana var. galearensis £2(F) Clustering. Gold spines.
APOROCACTUS Slender, trailing plants, generally grown in hanging baskets. Easy to grow and splendid plants for beginners.
flagelliformis £2(F) 'Rat-Tail Cactus'. Soon grows into imposing specimens, covered with rich magenta flowers in May.
martianus £2(F) Flowers orange red. Stems arching rather than hanging.
ASTROPHYTUM Hardly needs any introduction. Fine sculptured plants mostly covered with tiny white flecks of wool. Flowers produced several times each season, large, yellow.
asterias 1-2cm. £3, 4-5cm. £6. "Sea Urchin Cactus". Unique, choice plants, but difficult.
capricorne £2, 5-6cm. £4(F). Big yellow, red-throated flowers.
myriostigma £2, 4-6cm. £3(F). "Bishop's Cap". Densely speckled body. No spines. Normally 5 ribs.
myriostigma 'Nudum' £2, 5-6cm. £3(F) Unspotted form.
ornatum £2, 5-7cm. £3. The largest species, flowering from about 10cm. diameter.
CARNEGIEA Giant columnar plants of the Wild West films. Slow.
gigantea £2, 5-6cm. £3. "Saguaro". Ultimately reaches 10m. high, and survives for about 150 years in the wild. Branching does not occur until 2m. high, when around 60 years old. Slow but steady.
CEREUS Tall, strongly ribbed plants, usually covered with a blue protective wax on young growth. Flowers large, but usually only from plants over 1m. high. Quick growing.
aethiops £2, 10cm. £4. Dusky dark body. Flowers from about 30cm. high.
forbesii £2, 8-15cm. £3. Four-angled stems. Strong spines.
peruvianus £2, 8-15cm. £3. Fast growing, and sometimes used as grafting stock.
CLEISTOCACTUS Slender, clambering, prostrate or sometimes hanging plants of fairly rapid growth. The upturned tubular flowers are freely produced on mature plants.
CLEISTOCACTUS subgen. ANNEMARNIERIA Stiff, erect stems. Flowers turned downwards above the nectary.
COPIAPOA Globular Chilean cacti. Many are notable for the greyish white wax covering the body, and the woolly apex. Flowers yellow. The dwarf species are very free-flowering, in late summer.
CORYPHANTHA Small plants allied to Mammillaria, but tubercles grooved. Free-flowering, mostly yellow.
cornifera £2.
radians £2. Pectinate spines. Large yellow flowers.
ECHINOCACTUS Strongly spiny, globular, "Barrel" cacti. Some species ultimately become huge, imposing specimens.
grusonii (H) £2, 5-6cm. £3, 6-8cm. £5, and some larger specimens usually in stock. The famous "Golden Barrel" cactus, which should be in every collection. Seedlings are not ribbed but develop the characteristic form at 5-8 years old.
ECHINOCEREUS Large and diverse genus. Mainly forming groups. Flowers mostly large and showy, sometimes from very small plants.
pectinatus 5-7cm. £3. Short dense colourful pinkish spines.
pentalophus £2. Sprawling stems. Large purplish pink flowers.
reichenbachii ssp. baileyi (C) £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Young spines rusty brown.
reichenbachii ssp. fitchii (C) £2(F).
rigidissimus (C) £2, 6-7cm. £4. "Rainbow Cactus": so-called because the spines are organised into colourful bands. Easily the most attractive Echinocereus spination.
rigidissimus ssp. rubispinus £2, 6-7cm. £6(F). The finest form of all! At 3-4 years old, the young spines become a rich dark red, and becomes more and more resplendent with age.
scheeri ssp. gentryi £2, 5-6cm. £3. Fewer ribs. Almost spineless. The best form.
subinermis £2(F). Almost spineless plants with few ribs. Yellow flowers.
triglochidiatus (C) £2. Scarlet, chalice-shaped flowers.
triglochidiatus var. mojavensis `Inermis' (C) £2. A form with much reduced spination.
viridiflorus (C) £2(F). Small cold-hardy species. Flowers green.
ECHINOFOSSULOCACTUS Small, globular cacti, allied to Ferocactus, bearing numerous yellowish white or purple-striped flowers. Some are notable for their very numerous ribbon-like, wavy ribs.
albatus 5-6cm. £3. Spines and flowers whitish.
erectocentrus £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F).
lamellosus SB111 £2.
phyllacanthus 5-6cm. £3(F).
zacatecasensis £2. Flowers maroon striped.
ECHINOPSIS Diverse genus, with various shapes and sizes from dwarf (Lobivia) to tall (Trichocereus). Large, usually long-tubed flowers in white and a variety of spectacular colours.
aurea (Lobivia) (C) £2. Large yellow flowers.
aurea ssp. shaferi (C) £2. Thinner and freely offsetting.
bridgesiti (C) £2. Large white flowers.
candicans (Trichocereus) (C) 6-8cm. £3. Huge white flowers on old plants.
chamaecereus (Lobivia) (C) £2(F) "Peanut Cactus". An indestructable old favourite. Clusters freely. Flowers deep orange.
dobeana (C) £2. Rich red flowers.
formosa (Soehrensia) (C) 4-5cm £3.
fulvilana (C) 7-10cm. £5. Very pretty multi-coloured seedlings.
hahniana (Trichocereus) ISI1594 Cuttings £2(F). Tesselate trailing stems. Very free-flowering, Aug-Oct.
hertrichiana (Lobivia) (C) £2(F) Flowers red. Proliferous growth.
kermesina 5-6cm. £3(F). Flowers pink to red, large.
maximiliana (Lobivia) (C) 4-5cm. £3(F). Bright red-tipped flowers.
obrepanda 5-6cm. £3(F) Large white flowers.
oxygona (C) £2, 6-8cm. £4(F). Long white or pale pink flowers.
pentlandii (Lobivia) (C) 4-5cm. £3. Long pink flowers.
rowleyi (Trichocereus) (C) £2, 5-6cm. £3. Big deep red flowers.
schickendantzii (Trichocereus) (C) 10-15cm. £7(F). Large white flowers.
spiniflora var. violacea (Acanthocalycium) (C) 5-6cm. £3. Flowers violet.
subdenudata (C) £2, 5-6cm. £3(F), 6-8cm. £6(F). More or less spineless, crown-shaped plants. Fluffy areoles. Long white flowers.
vasquezii (Trichocereus) ISI1727 cuttings £3. Slender stems. Large white flowers.
Echinopsis cultivars:
Cultivars:
'John Pilbeam' £3(F). Chamaecereus Cult. Group. Deep orange flowers.
'Violet Beauty' £4(F). Paramount Cult. Group. Pink.
EPIPHYLLS
These are hybrids between Epiphyllum, Heliocereus, Selenicereus, and other epiphytic genera. Often called Orchid Cacti, or simply Epiphyllums. The flowers are large and flamboyant, and they make excellent plants for indoor cultivation.
Collection of 5 named Epiphylls, our selection, in a wide range of colours. £9(F)
Same collection, but unrooted cuttings £6.50.
EPIPHYLLUM Flat-stemmed epiphytic cacti, with large showy flowers.
ackermannii (Nopalxochia or Disocactus) £3(F). An old and popular favourite. Easy flowering red.
EPITHELANTHA Mainly clustering, with attractive tight spination. Flowers small and pink.
micromeris £3(F), 3-4cm. £5(F). Dense white spines.
ERIOSYCE Mostly small Chilean plants. Many have dark brown bodies, others green. Most flower readily in autumn or spring, and are quite easy to grow.
taltalensis ssp. paucicostata £2(F). Slate blue or green body. Pink flowers.
FEROCACTUS Mostly big barrel cacti, often with strong, brightly coloured spines. Generally only large plants will flower. Some larger plants of most species are generally available.
emoryi £2, 5-6cm. £3, 20 seeds 40p. Large woolly areoles.
glaucescens £2, 5-6cm. £3, 6-8cm. £5. Spines and flowers yellow.
gracilis £2, 5-6cm. £3. Young spines deep red.
hamatacanthus 5-6cm. £3. Spines multicoloured. Big yellow flowers, fragrant. The hardiest species.
histrix £2, 5-6cm. £3. Fast-growing, popular species.
pilosus £2, 5-6cm. £3, 6-8cm. £5. Rich red spines.
wislizeni 5-6cm. £3. Becomes very large.
GYMNOCALYCIUM Small globular plants of very free-flowering habit. Popular with beginners and specialist collectors alike.
baldianum (C) £2(F), 4-5cm. £3(F). Red flowers. Easy to grow and flower.
bruchii (C) £2(F). Dwarf clustering species. Pretty lilac flowers in Spring.
damsii £2(F). White flowers.
damsii var. rotundulum £2(F) Zebra-marked plants when young.
denudatum 4-5cm. £3(F). Fat, shiny green bodies. Large white flowers.
eurypleurum £2, 4-5cm. £3(F). Fresh green, flattened body. White flowers.
gibbosum (C) £2. Dark body. White flowers.
horstii £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Fat green shiny plants. Large white flowers.
mesopotamicum (C) £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Dwarf species. Deep green body. Short bristly spines.
mihanovichii £2(F), 20 seeds 40p. Brownish olive green flowers.
mihanovichii var. friedrichii £2(F). Body with zebra markings. Flowers bright pink. Everybody's favourite.
multiflorum (C) £2, 5-6cm. £3, 7-8cm. £5(F). Colourful plants. Big pink flowers.
pflanzii (C) £2, 5-6cm. £3. Flowers peach coloured.
quehlianum (C) £2(F), 4-5cm. £3(F). Bluish flattened stem.
saglione (C) £2, 5-6cm. £3. One of the largest Gymnos. Flowers white to peach.
schickendantzii (C) £2.
uruguayense (C) £2. Flowers pale yellow.
vatteri (C) 5-6cm. £3. Flattened plants.
HELIOCEREUS Large-flowered epiphytes with mainly 3-4 angled stems.
speciosus var. amecamecanus cuttings £3. Flowers pure white.
LEUCHTENBERGIA Bizarre plant with long bluish grey tubercles. Big yellow flowers. Tubercles are eventually deciduous, but the tips die back excessively if the plants are grown too dry.
principis £2, 4-5cm. £3, 5-7cm. £5, 7-10cm. £8(F). Rare species in the wild, but does well in cultivation.
LOPHOPHORA Spineless pale green plants, with fluffy areoles. The well-known 'Peyote'. Because of their halucinogenic alkaloid content, sometimes used and abused by weirdies, and unlicenced ownership in USA and France is a criminal offence. Fortunately no such controls exist yet in Britain. Immensely popular plants that are relatively easy to grow.
williamsii £3, 3-4cm. £5(F), 5-6cm. £7(F). Pale blue body. Flowers pale pink to pale red.
MAMMILLARIA Very large diverse genus of more than 300 species. Mainly small plants, mostly easy to grow and flower, but with a few notable exceptions to challenge the enthusiast.
bocasana £2(F). White hairy plants. Grows quickly to form large mounds. Flowers salmon to rose pink.
bombycina £2, 5-6cm. £3(F), 6-9cm. £6(F). Grows into large imposing specimens, much favoured by showpersons.
camptotricha £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Bird's nest spination. Tiny white fragrant flowers.
camptotricha 'Curvispina' £2(F).
camptotricha 'Mme. Marnier' £2(F). Form with reddish tipped tubercles and shorter neater spination.
candida 4-6cm. £3(F). Dense short white spines.
carmenae £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Larger plants also often in stock. Spines whitish, gold, or reddish brown. Clustering. Small white flowers. The brown-spined forms are particularly attractive.
celsiana 5-6cm. £3, 6-10cm. £6(F). Short pale yellow spines. Often called by the cumbersome later name muehlenpfordtii, but regarded by Cels himself as the same plant.
dixanthocentron 5-6cm. £3(F). Long yellow central spines, rarely white.
elegans £2. Densely spiny. Old favourite.
elegans var. dealbata £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Beautiful form with jet-black centrals.
elongata £2(F), 5-8cm. £3(F). Mainly yellow spines, usually with reddish-tipped centrals.
fuscata £2, 5-7cm. £3(F), 7-9cm. £6(F). Golden spines. Red flowers.
glassii £2(F). White spines and hairs. Forms tight clusters.
glassii ssp. nominis-dulcis £2(F). More robust with larger flowers.
gracilis 'Alba' £2. Spines all white.
gracilis 'Arizona Snowcap' £2(F). Very pretty mutation with shorter thicker white spines.
gracilis 'Blooming Red' £2(F). Flowers fuchsine pink with darker midstripes.
gracilis 'Pulchella' £2(F). Smaller form.
hahniana £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). White hairy species. Red flowers.
laui var. dasyacantha £2, 5-6cm. £3(F)
longiflora var. stampferi £2(F). Spines and flowers a little shorter.
microhelia £2, 5-7cm. £3(F). Columnar habit. Neat spination. Flowers yellow or pale pink.
parkinsonii £2. Milk white spines, some brown-tipped.
pilcayensis £2, 5-7cm. £3(F). Spines dense but very short, like a crew-cut. Garlands of red flowers. Procumbent in age.
plumosa £2, 5-6cm. £3(F), 5-7cm. £5(F). Feathery white spines obscuring the plant body. Quickly develops into imposing specimens. Should be in every collection.
polythele £2(F), 20 seeds 40p. Bright red flowers in late autumn.
polythele 'Jan Suba' 5-6cm. £3(F). Spineless variant.
prolifera var. texana (C) £2(F). Spines greyish, centrals dark-tipped. Bright red fruits.
sphaerica 5-6cm. £3(F). Short-tubercled version of longimamma. Flowering when younger.
spinosissima £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Flowers form a complete garland around the top, deep red.
spinossima 'Uno Pico' £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). A stable genetic mutation in which each areole only produces one spine. In European cultivation since before 1991, but never formally described.
trichacantha £2(F). Small yellow flowers.
uncinata 4-5cm. £3.
zeilmanniana £2(F), 5-7cm. £3(F). The all-time most popular flowering cactus, and grown in the millions every year to satisfy public demand in Europe. Rich purplish red flowers in May, continuing for several weeks.
zeilmanniana 'Alba' £2(F), 5-7cm. £3(F). Flowers pure white.
Collection of 5 Mammillaria, our selection £8.50.
5 packets Mammillaria seed, our selection £1.75.
MATUCANA Mostly globular plants, with long, brightly coloured flowers. Relatively undemanding, and deserve to be better known.
aureiflora 4-5cm. £3(F). Unusual in the genus for its bright yellow flowers resembling those of a Rebutia.
polzii EZ762 £2. Freely offsetting relative of aurantiaca.
OPUNTIA Large diverse genus with cylindrical or segmented stems. Few species flower well in pot cultivation, but they are generally easy to grow. The larger species are best bedded out. Seeds generally require pretreatment, or temperature cycling, to break dormancy.
articulata (Tephrocactus) £2, 7-12cm. £4. Greyish spherical segments. Flat papery spines.
corrugata (C) £2. Ground-hugging chains of flattened joints.
dactylifera (Tephrocactus) (C) cuttings £2. Ovoid segments.
glomerata (Tephrocactus) (C) Cuttings £2. Conical segments. Mound-forming. Long flexible spines.
glomerata ssp. minuta (C) Cuttings £2. Smaller. Fewer spines.
ovata ssp. platyacantha (Tephrocactus) (C) cuttings £2. Dark pigmented ellipsoid joints, with flattened papery spines.
pentlandii (Tephrocactus) Cuttings £2. Ellipsoid segments.
robusta (C) £2, 10-15cm. £4. Fast growing. Pale blue pads.
rossiana (C) (Tephrocactus) cuttings £2. Heaps of small spherical heads.
sphaerica (Tephrocactus) £2.
subinermis (Tephrocactus) (C) Cuttings £2. Green spineless conical segments.
subulata (Austrocylindropuntia) 15-20cm. £3. Cylindric stem, prominent round leaves.
subulata monstrose £2. Multiheaded.
OREOCEREUS Stout, columnar plants, with large, usually hairy areoles. Very easy to grow, but only very old plants will flower.
celsianus (C) £2, 6-8cm. £3, 8-10cm. £5. Long white silky hair and stout spines.
trollii (C) £2, 6-8cm. £3, 8-10cm. £5. The hairiest species. Densely wrapped in pure white hairs.
PACHYCEREUS Columnar, generally massive cacti.
pringlei £2, 9-12cm. £4. Easy, fast-growing. Very spiny. Ultimately massive.
PARODIA Mainly small plants. Notable for the very free-flowering habit, mainly yellow. Incorporating Notocactus.
buiningii (Notocactus) 4-5cm. £3(F). Unique bright emerald green body.
chrysacanthion 5-6cm. £3(F). Spines and flowers golden yellow.
concinna (Notocactus) £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Large yellow flowers.
crassigibba var. uebelmanniana (Notocactus) £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Purple flowers.
graessneri (Notocactus) £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Spines shining yellow. Flowers green.
haselbergii (Notocactus) £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Spines white. Flowers red.
leninghausii (Notocactus) £2, 5-6cm. £3, 6-7cm. £5. Bristly spines and flowers yellow. Becomes columnar with age.
mairanana £2(F). Coppery orange flowers. Very reliable.
magnifica (Notocactus) £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Strong acute ribs. Yellow flowers.
mammulosa (Notocactus) £2. Yellow flowers.
mutabilis £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F), 20 seeds 40p. Spines amber yellow. Flowers yellow.
ottonis (Notocactus) £2(F), 4-5cm. £3(F). Established favourite. Clustering. Yellow flowers.
penicillata 5-6cm. £3(F). Straw yellow spines. Orange red flowers.
rutilans (Notocactus) £2. Flowers satin pink.
scopa (Notocactus) £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Beautiful dense spination. Red centrals & white radials. Flowers yellow.
submammulosa (Notocactus) (C) £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F), 6-7cm. £5(F). Good beginner's plant. Large yellow flowers.
REBUTIA Small plants, solitary or clustering. Great favourites among the small easily-flowered cacti. Flowers mainly in May & June in a kaleidoscope of colours. Easy and good beginner's plants.
albipilosa (C) 5-6cm. £3(F). Long soft creamy white spines. Orange flowers.
albiflora £2(F). Freely caespitose. One of the few white-flowered Rebutia.
archebuiningiana 4-5cm. £3(F). Flowers pale orange.
brunescens (C) £2(F).
cajasensis (C) £2(F). Orange flowers.
canacruzensis (C) £2(F). Pygmaea group. Pink flowers.
crispata (Sulcorebutia) (C) £2(F). Dark body. Short, neat pectinate spines. Flowers purple pink.
decrescens (C) KK1924 £2(F). Bright orange flowers.
diersiana (C) £2(F). Pretty dwarf plants with rich orange flowers.
einsteinii (C) £2(F). Dark bodies, few spines. Orange-yellow flowers.
fabrisii £2(F). Clustering. Orange flowers.
fabrisii var. aureiflora R687 £2(F). Clustering. Yellow flowers.
fiebrigii £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Robust spiny species. Orange flowers.
flavistyla FR756 £2(F). Burnt orange flowers.
krainziana (C) £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Neat spination. Red flowers.
marsoneri (C) £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Best of the yellow flowered Rebutia.
minuscula (C) £2(F). Flowers carmine. Very easy and popular species.
muscula £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Short dense white spination. Orange flowers. Very popular.
narvaecensis KK1518 £2(F), 4-5cm. £3(F). Rose pink flowers.
neocumingii (Weingartia) £2(F), 5-6cm. £3(F). Masses of yellow flowers.
pulchella £2(F). Orange flowers.
pulvinosa FR766 £2(F). Freely caespitose. Flowers orange.
pygmaea (C) £2(F). Small clustering plants. Orange flowers.
robustispina (C) R88 £2(F). A long-spined form.
senilis (C) £2(F). Bristly white spines of variable length. Red flowers.
senilis var. kesselringiana (C) £2(F), 4-5cm. £3(F). Flowers clear yellow.
violaciflora (C) £2(F), 5-6cm £3(F). Flowers rich violet. Deservedly popular.
Collection of 5 different Rebutia, our selection £8.50. All flowering size, in a variety of colours.
RHIPSALIS Epiphytic cacti of diverse habit of growth. Segments cylindrical or flat. Flowers generally prolific but small.
micrantha (Pseudorhipsalis) £2. Flat, branching stems. White berries.
monacantha (Acanthorhipsalis) £2(F). Orange red flowers.
neves-armondii £2(F). Relatively large flowers.
paranganiensis (Acanthorhipsalis) ISI1102 £2. Rambles everywhere.
pilocarpa (Erythrorhipsalis) £2, 20 seeds 40p. Good basket plant. Covered in white bristles.
SELENICEREUS Long trailing stems, sprouting and growing in all directions. Very large to huge, white, nocturnal flowers. Normally plants have to be big to flower (stems over 2m. long), but we have sometimes flowered rooted cuttings only 30cm. long.
coniflorus (H) (Palma Sola, Veracruz, Mexico) £2. Perhaps only a variety of grandiflorus.
spinulosus £2. The easiest species to grow and flower. Flowers 12cm. long, 14cm. diameter.
STENOCEREUS Mainly columnar plants. Many exhibit ashy-grey young growth.
thurberi £2, 8-10cm. £3. Young spines bright red.
STETSONIA One tree-like candelabra-branched species.
coryne 7-9cm. £3. Bluish body. Heavy black-tipped spines.
THELOCACTUS Globular to conical, free-flowering plants from Mexico and southern USA. Resistant and of easy cultivation.
bicolor £2, 5-6cm. £3(F). Notable for the large red-throated flowers.
conothelos CH237 £2. Flowers magenta.
hexaedrophorus £2, 44-5cm. £3(F). Ashy grey body. large satiny white or pale pink flowers.
rinconensis 4-5cm. £3. Dark greyish green body.
TURBINICARPUS Miniature plants which flower very early in the spring, and often again in the autumn. Highly collectable gems. Gymnocactus include the largest species, which are intermediate to the related Thelocactus.
flaviflorus £3(F). Amber yellow flowers.
macrochele £2(F); 'Polaskii' £2(F). Lophophora-like body. Few spines.
schwarzii £2(F); 'Klinkerianus' £2(F), 3cm. £3(F).
WEBEROCEREUS Curious epiphytic plants with very slender or flattened stems.
glaber (Werckleocereus) cuttings £2. Flowers white.