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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Agave americana variety 'glauca' at Rivenrock Gardens,
showing how the 'baby' plants grow from the 'mother' plant
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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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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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Last updated, 2004
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