**ARCHIVED POST **
Kathy Saucier is a member of our Trinity Forks Chapter whose photographs have frequently won prizes in native plant and lanscape categories. Here she shows some of her favorite cactus plants.
Plains Nipple Cactus
Escobaria missouriensis var. similis
As with many of these cacti, names are ever changing. Other listings include Coryphantha missouriensis and Escobaria missouriensis var. caespitosa. What distinguishes this particular specimen from Escobaria missouriensis var. robustior is fringed sepals, according to the key in Flora of North Central Texas.
This particular plant originated from Greenwood in Wise County near the LBJ National Grasslands. The same species also grows at our place in the Hill Country. It blooms early May and is known for large colonies of small plants.
Lace Cactus
Echinocereus reichenbachii, sometimes seen as Echinocereus caespitosa
This cactus is seen literally growing out of limestone or granite rock. One place to catch a glimpse of this pretty pink-flowering cactus is along Highway 16 between Llano and Fredericksburg (its beauty has made it susceptible to being stolen in these public places). I assume it is at Enchanted Rock as well, which is quite close to this spot on the highway. The thorns, in rows, interlace each other so much that you should carefully pick this cactus up with your hands. Large, brilliant hot-pink flowers bloom sometime between mid-April to mid-May.
Too much rain will do this one in. We noticed a decline in the population at our place in Gillespie County, where it grows out of limestone, after 2007 when it rained all summer. And the same has happened in my yard in North Texas with the blackland prairie clay. Best grown in a stacked rock wall or well drained pot.
Claret Cup Cactus
Echinocereus coccineus var. paucispinus
This particular plant originated from the Trans-Pecos area and has thrived on the hot, barren, sand/gravel/clay soil of our farm in the Hill Country. Each year for the last 50 years it has bloomed around late March. Pieces from this plant have been transplanted to my yard in North Texas and to my mom’s yard in San Antonio with poor success. It apparently doesn’t like the black clay soils or extra moisture, as mine blooms about every 3-5 years and doesn’t grow, and hers always die. So this is another quite picky cactus that doesn’t like life to be too good.
Pineapple Cactus
Coryphantha sulcata
Originally collected from one of our places in the Hill Country, I’m pleased that it has done so well in my North Texas yard, especially since it seems to have disappeared from where I found it. I guess it is time to propagate it and return a population to its rightful home.
I love Pineapple Cactus. The structure truly looks like a pineapple once the plant has some age on it. And the flowers, which are quite large, are a beautiful golden color that also reminds me of the inside of a nice ripe pineapple. I am so in love with this cactus in bloom that each year I find myself snapping more photos.
Twisted Rib Cactus
Echinocactus setispinus, also called Ferocactus setispinus and Hamatocactus bicolor
It’s bad enough when plants have multiple common names but then you come across these with multiple scientific names. Don’t ask me which is the currently accepted name though. Other common names may include “Fishhook” and “Hedgehog,” both which are common names for other genera.
A friend and fellow Society member purchased a couple of plants in South Texas years ago on her way back from South Padre and generously gave me one. That one is now multiple plants and in two colors. The bright lemony yellow is typical. Showy red fruits follow.
This cactus is native to South Texas and Mexico but has survived some pretty tough winters north of Dallas, including multiple snows. Another positive for this plant is that it has a long bloom season, usually starting mid-spring and puts on shows off and on through all of summer. Characteristics of the plant include ribs or rows that spiral and each set of spines has a longer thorn with a hook.
Horse Crippler Cactus
Echinocactus texensis
This is a very abundant cactus of the Texas Hill Country. It is very prolific and easy to transplant, but as with other cacti, plant it in a soil or rock/soil mix that will drain well.
In early spring it produces beautiful fringed pink flowers; however the fruits are probably even more spectacular. Low growing with tough spines, this plant is often cause for flat tires in vehicles driven off road.
**ARCHIVED POST**
**ARCHIVED POST LINKS & PICTURES MAY NOT WORK**
**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: kathysaucier
