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Rivenrock Gardens Catalog Page

We carry a variety of cactus plants, described here in three different areas.
Edible Cactus|Non-edible Cactus|Agave Cactus

Check out the photo gallery for our photo display of cactus. 



 

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EDIBLE CACTUS



variety Santa Ynez Opuntia-ficus-indica Santa Ynez.

This is a view of the variety we feel to be superior for fruit production. The fruit of this variety is a delightful orange/red color, and the tiny spines (glochids) are not nearly as troublesome as on most other varieties. This plant can grow to a large size, but has a tendancy to topple in high winds if allowed to grow too tall.
We sell the cuttings of this most desirable of fruiting cactus for $7.00 each.

Due to new Spring growth,
we cannot take cuttings of these leaves until this growth has matured...this will happen in July 2008.
If you'd like these leaves, go ahead and send your order in,
but the leaves will not be harvested and shipped until some time in July.


Opuntia robusta,

Opuntia Robusta

Here is a very, very impressive plant. Commonly called 'Dinner Plate Cactus' due to the huge size the round and flat leaves can grow to. We sometimes get these growing upwards of 16 inches across! They weigh a lot and this causes us to raise the price to help cover postage. This plant is a bit more liable to suffer rot problems if not in a very well draining soil. It also gets top-heavy causing it to be blown over by winds in winter when the soil is soggy. This is when we take cuttings to increase our plantings. Lat year this variety sold out early, and I expect the same this year Leaf cuttings are 10 to 14 inches long, and a bit less in width. We carry both the (almost) spineless, and a spiny variety that is very attractive. The spiny ones would be very good for intruder control, I can neither confirm nor deny that the U.S. Government bought a large quantity of these to plant around AREA 51 to keep the UFO 'looky-lous' out.
Spineless leaf Cuttings-$16 ea.
Spiny leaf cuttings: $12.00 each

Due to new Spring growth,
we cannot take cuttings of these leaves until this growth has matured...this will happen in July 2008.
If you'd like these leaves, go ahead and send your order in,
but the leaves will not be harvested and shipped until some time in July.


Opuntia Santa Maria, great edible leaves!

Opuntia ficus-indica, variety 'Santa Maria'

This plant is a faster grower than the Santa Ynez. It does however have a bit more tendency to carry a few small spines and some glochids on the leaves. The fruit also will tend to have some glochids but is still very free of the nettles compared to the average 'prickly pear.' This is a very good variety for leaf production due to its rapid growth and nearly spineless skin. Leaf cuttings are 12 to 16 inches long, very similar to the Santa Ynez. Leaf Cuttings: $6.00 each

Due to new Spring growth,
we cannot take cuttings of these leaves until this growth has matured...this will happen in July 2008.
If you'd like these leaves, go ahead and send your order in,
but the leaves will not be harvested and shipped until some time in July.


Opuntia ficus-indica, variety Lynnwood, kinda spiny, but a fast grower!

Opuntia ficus-indica, variety 'Lynnwood'

This is the premier of the three so far, if you want a mix of fast growing, dark green, upright leaves reaching for the sky, and some fairly spiny leaves for dinner, this is the one. This plant grows so fast it is likely to reach six feet tall in two years. Each leaf will have some thin spines which scrape off easily with a kitchen knife, similar to scaling a fish. The leaves are in the classic 'cow tongue' shape, long pads ending in a rounded point, tasty leaves indeed.
The fruit from this variety is very spiny, but the fruits are a deep reddish color, and are very tasty and sweet. This variety also comes into fruit faster than the others we sell.
Leaf Cuttings: $5.00 each


Opuntia ficus-indica, variety 'Burbanks spineless'

Opuntia ficus-indica, variety 'Burbanks Spineless'

This variety was promoted by the late, great plantsman Luther Burbank. Whether he bred the plant himself or got ahold of some superior plants is a matter of debate. Nevertheless, this variety probably descended from some generically called 'Indian Fig.' The plants are not nearly spineless but do indeed have many spines and glochids compared to the others we call 'nearly spineless.' Mr. Burbank is said to have laboriously removed the spines from a plant before a press conference, whereupon he rubbed the plant across his bare cheek to the delight and amazement of the press. This is likely similar to the plant that escaped cultivation in Australia and has caused much heartache there. The fruit is a very attractive, deep purple but is very tangy. We sell this plant in homage to the man who gave us the Burbank russet potato and many other fruits and vegetables. 6 inch pads: $5.00


NON-EDIBLE CACTUS

Opunita cactus, O. microdasys

Opuntia microdasys

This species opuntia is noted for its' small hair-like glochids covering the plant very densly. The glochids come in three colors depending upon the variety, white for 'alba,' red for 'rufra,' and yellow, of which there are two cultivars: 'honey mike' and 'yellow.' These are even more densly covered in bright yellow glochids. These are often referred to as angels wings or bunny ears. Not to be touched by children or pets! We are too low on alba this year to sell any, due to our heavy rains this past year. The blue plant in the background is Agave americana glauca. This plant should be handled with tongs or newspaper.
Rufra (red spines) 4 to 5 inch cuttings: $2.50
Yellow 4 to 5 inch cuttings: $3.00


Opuntia phaecantha, var. discata

Opuntia phaecantha variety discata

This plant is very hardy, and able to withstand a bit of cold weather. It has a tendancy to want to crawl along the ground and root some pads here and there as it goes. It is very heavily covered with some terribly vicious long spines. It also has some of the prettiest deep yellow flowers. A nice landscape plant, but not too close to the children please. Opuntia phaecantha: $5.00 The leaves used for cuttings tend to be about 8 inches long, and 5 inches wide


Opuntia subulata, 'Eve's needle'

Opuntia subulata:'Eve's needle'

   This plant will grow into a six foot specimen that can withstand a bit of cold. It has long, sharp, vicious spines. But will grow easily from the unrooted cuttings provided. Opuntia subulata: One foot cuttings: $5.00 18" cuttings: $7.00


Trichocereus spachianus

  Trichocereus spachianus,

   This upright plant is very easy to grow. It has beautiful white blossoms that come out in summer. The plant is very easy to grow and comes as ready to plant one foot cuttings. Just dig a hole with a post hole digger, and set the plant about eight inches into the ground All the cuttings are taken when the order is received and set aside to dry for a week. Plant them after a few more days drying at your place. This reduces costs to us, and gives you more plant for your money. Trichocereus spachianus:
12 inch cuttings $12.00


Aloe nobilis

Aloe nobilis Related to the medicinal Aloe vera, but is not used for the curative effects of the latter. Aloe nobilis means true aloe. This plant grows in clumps that widen from the growth of the new 'babies' coming from the base of the 'mother' plant. Its' spring and summer flowers are a hummingbird attractant and a large patch will likely have a resident hummingbird vigorously defending 'his' property from feathered intruders. We sell this species as rooted offshots.
3 to 4 inch cuttings: $3.00 6 to 8 inch cuttings: $5.00


Agave americana, the blue agave

AGAVE

Agave americana variety 'glauca' at Rivenrock Gardens,
showing how the 'baby' plants grow from the 'mother' plant

Agave
This is the fabled 'century plant,' said to put out its' flower stalk every one hundred years. In actuality the plant puts out its' stalk when it has reached the end of its' life. This is dependent on environmental conditions and is generally between twenty to thirtyfive years. Some varieties are grown for fiber for ropes, some for tequila, and some are said to have a delicious meat inside that is very good baked. We sell three varieties.

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Agave americana 'glauca,' the blue agave


This plant with its' deep blue hues compliments many planting color schemes. It is a fairly rapid grower and can reach eight feet tall and ten feet wide in five to ten years with good conditions. Reduced water and food slows growth. It tends to put out many offshoots and will often send underground runners yards away to pop up with a new plant.
Rooted offshoots 6 to 8 inches across: $5.00
10 to 15 inches:$10.00

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Agave americana 'variegata,' the striped agave


This a a slower grower than the last, this is due to the chlorophyll deficient yellowish stripes running down the margins of the leaves. It is generally seen as more manageable in the smaller gardens.
Rooted offshoots 6 to 8 inches: $5.00


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