Some Serious Spines ...

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

These look like some serious spines! But I love their color and I've never been poked by them. Even in a small pot this variety blooms beautifully in the spring.

I've taken a more serious interest in succulents because the last few year's drought, and succulents of course includes cacti. Many of them have been passed along by Mara. Maybe she will ID the one above.

Another with serious looking spines is Grizzly bear, but while not exactly furry they aren't too pokey either.

There are three 'grizzly' plants of maybe three varieties that take all day hot reflected sun in these small pots. Plus there has never been the slightest damage from freezing temps the last three winters either. Many thanks Mara! BTW, do you think they need transplanting into larger pots?

This guy, though I love him, has more to be feared in those beautiful cinnomon glochids. They will transfer immediately to anything that touches them and I've had a run in with them a couple of times. The stickiest tape you can find is helpful in removing them.

This beauty will get me every time I get within a foot of it, or so it seems. But when it covers itself with yellow blooms in spring all is forgiven.

Happily, there is nothing to be feared from the speckled leaves of Manfreda macho mocha, a natural cross between a manfreda and an agave.

Nor from the soft leaves of Color guard yucca. Plants such a this and all the above give year round interest.

I don't know why I waited so long to use gopher plants. They are not spiny, but still bear watching out for. Being euphorbias they ooze a sticky white sap when cut that can be irritating to the skin. I'm really enjoying them and am wondering if they will they persist from year to year, (?)

I like to live dangerously myself (grin), but for those who like soft plants here's an African violet that's been blooming on my kitchen window sill for a couple of months now. What a color!

So these are some of the plants that have offered interest through the winter. What have been good for you in that respect?

Happy gardening!

Featured Answer

wantonamara Z8 CenTex

11 years ago

I think the first one is O. spinosibaca, I think. I call it Sid Vicious.

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Comments (11)

roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Mara, thanks for proper Latin name. "Sid Vicious" goes well too. BTW, I didn't even know Sid Vicious was a person until I looked the name up just now! He's a 'rock star'. Am I the only person that didn't know that? Oh well ...

A few here may be interested in cacti, but I know most people are not, however if not -- what plants have you especially enjoyed this winter?
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wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I guess that you weren't into punk music, Ragna.Actually, TxRanger named it that. I got my pads from her. I have been focussed on seedlings and have not been focussing on the rest of my garden. I know, shame on me. I have been staring at tiny little things.... mostly penstemons, Mentzelias, california poppies, astragalus.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I see that O. spinosibaca, aka Sid Vicious, orginated in the Texas Big Bend. Falling into a patch like this one could be lethal! However, it does have a lot of buds. Too bad they didn't catch it in full bloom.

On second thought those are the pears, representing a lot of flowers.
castro_gardener
11 years ago
I can NOT grow a violet for the life of me !! Yours looks fake it's so gorgeous !!
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
Patty, drainage drainage drainage. It also could be the species that you are growing. Grow a O. macrocentra. It is not as cold tender , rot sensitive or bug sensitive as the O. violacia "tubac"
castro_gardener
11 years ago
Mara, I was talking about Ragna's violet. Are you talking about opuntias ? Those I can grow. :-)
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
I guess so. I am not a violet person either.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Here is something kinda violet that I picked up at HD. I thought Ragna might be interested. It looks like a hybrid or E. topsy turvy. Any ideas on names. I am hoping for a similar cold hardiness because it is going to need it where I am putting it. I am thinking E. lilacina might a parent. It ois a lot more violet and glaucous than my other topsy turvy. That one is a more a pale green. The leaves are a lot meatier too.

OOH, I just found the name. E. 'Cubic Frost'. They need a new namer...Cr@ppy name.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
Hey, I gave you credit above.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
11 years ago
Mara, I am definitely interested in E. 'Cubic Frost'! It's beautiful -- whatever the name.

If I don't find one at 'my' HD I'll be trying to beg a start off of you.

Patty, house plants don't usually do well for me. The African violet is the only house plant I grow. Like cacti they prefer well drained soil or their roots rot. They can can take short periods of dry soil, but not for long. Bright light is a requirement. Given those conditions and a little weak fertilizer they flourish on my window sill.