Pencil Cactus
A branching succulent shrub or small tree with slender, pencil-like green stems and tiny, short-lived leaves; not a true cactus. Special Features Sculptural branching, strong heat tolerance, and excellent drought resistance once established. Milky sap is toxic and highly irritating. Problems & Solutions Frost-tender and not reliably hardy throughout Zone 9b; freezing temperatures can damage […]
Peruvian Old Man Cactus
A columnar cactus native to Ecuador and Peru, with ribbed green stems densely covered in white, woolly hairs that conceal sharp spines. Special Features Distinctive white woolly covering; drought tolerant once established; striking vertical accent. Problems & Solutions Root and stem rot (improve drainage and reduce watering); sunburn in intense Phoenix exposure (provide afternoon shade); […]
Semponium ‘Sienna’
An unusual intergeneric hybrid of Sempervivum and Aeonium, forming clustered succulent rosettes with warm copper, bronze, and reddish foliage. Best treated as a protected container specimen in Phoenix. Special Features Unusual Sempervivum–Aeonium parentage; colorful rosettes and a branching, clustered form. Drought tolerant once established, but not a dependable full-sun desert succulent. Problems & Solutions Phoenix […]
Sedum Bronze Carpet
A low-growing, mat-forming succulent with small, fleshy, bronze-tinted leaves. Sedum spurium ‘Bronze Carpet’, also called Phedimus spurius ‘Bronze Carpet’, needs protection from Phoenix’s extreme summer heat. Special Features Bronze foliage; spreading groundcover; drought tolerant once established; flowers attract bees and butterflies. Problems & Solutions Phoenix summer heat can cause scorch and decline (provide afternoon shade […]
Semponium ‘Diamond’
An intergeneric hybrid of Sempervivum and Aeonium with dense rosettes of fleshy, pointed leaves. Best treated as a protected container succulent in Phoenix rather than a desert landscape plant. Special Features Unusual Sempervivum–Aeonium parentage; sculptural rosettes and changing foliage colors. Well suited to decorative containers. Problems & Solutions Phoenix summer heat and direct sun can […]
Silver Lady Slipper (Slipper Plant)
Succulent shrub native to the Sonoran Desert with upright, gray-green to silvery, nearly leafless stems and small slipper-shaped red flowers at the stem tips. Well adapted to hot, arid, low-desert conditions and reflected heat. Special Features Drought tolerant once established; excellent heat and reflected-sun tolerance; attracts hummingbirds; sculptural leafless stems Problems & Solutions Overwatering causes […]
Senecio Skyscraper ‘Mount Everest’
Striking succulent with powdery blue-green cylindrical leaves on upright stems forming a dense, architectural mound. Excellent container or accent plant for low-water landscapes. Frost-tender and best sited in a warm, protected exposure. Special Features Striking blue-gray foliage; drought tolerant once established; year-round color and texture; deer resistant Problems & Solutions Root rot in poorly drained […]
Senecio The Blues (Blue Chalksticks)
Low-growing succulent groundcover with striking blue-gray cylindrical leaves that spreads readily and provides bold color contrast in desert landscapes. Tolerates heat and reflected sun well and roots along the stems as it spreads. Special Features Striking blue-gray foliage for year-round color; excellent groundcover for slopes and rock gardens; drought tolerant once established Problems & Solutions […]
Stetsonia
A large, tree-like Argentine cactus with ribbed, blue-green stems and long, stout spines; commonly called toothpick cactus. Special Features Dramatic branching silhouette, exceptionally long spines, strong heat and drought tolerance, and showy nocturnal flowers. Problems & Solutions Root and stem rot in wet soil (ensure excellent drainage); sunburn after sudden exposure (acclimate gradually); freeze injury, […]
Stetsonia Cactus
A tree-like South American cactus with thick, ribbed, blue-green stems and long, stout spines; commonly called toothpick cactus. Special Features Bold architectural form; exceptionally long toothpick-like spines; heat and drought tolerance; large night-opening flowers. Problems & Solutions Root and stem rot from excess moisture (ensure excellent drainage); sunburn after abrupt exposure (acclimate gradually); frost injury, […]