Haul of Wonders: Behold the Plants We Brought Home From a Month of Cactus & Succulent Shows

Confession: Ryan and I attended the San Diego Succulent & Cactus Show & Sale, but we ended up completely missing the show. Why? Because we were busy buying every succulent in sight.

We were not alone. Up and down the ten or so aisles under a dedicated tent in Balboa Park, there were lots of people reaching for rare plants at honest prices. No one got elbowed, but I felt my sample sale instincts kick in when someone tried to “casually examine” the Copiapoa tenuissma Ryan had put down for a second. In a space full of desert plants, the scene was a jungle. And we loved every minute.

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

The first plant we grabbed was the last one left in its section, a variegated Senecio ‘Ivy’  that, amazingly, is a succulent that looks and climbs like ivy. We found Astrophytum, a favorite genus after our visit to Terra Sol, in wild colors and textures. We got a gasteria that resembles strips of raw denim.

Two weekends later, we followed our succulent cravings to Los Angeles. We attended the LA Cactus & Succulent Society Drought Tolerant Plant Festival and Sale, held annually at Sepulveda Garden Center in Encino. We bought some beauties there too. And this time, we made it in to see the show plants, and voted for our favorites!

If you’ll let us geek out for a minute, here’s the complete rundown of the plants we saw, the plants we picked up, and why we’re excited about them.

Missed these events? Don’t sweat — there are still three major succulent shows left this summer in Southern California:

July 1–3: CSSA Annual Show & Sale — The Huntington Library Art Collection & Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (Show opens on July 2.)

July 21–23: Orange County Cactus & Succulent Society Summer Show & Sale — Anaheim United Methodist Church, 1000 S. State College Boulevard, Anaheim.

August 13–14: 31st Annual Intercity Show & Sale LA County Arboretum — 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia. For information, contact Tom Glavich at 626-798-2430 or Artie Chavez at 818-482-8795.

(Source: LACSS)

—TH

2016 San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Plant Show and Sale

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

Pick a succulent, any succulent. But do it fast! With so many choices at reasonable prices, plants were flying off the table.

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

This $40 plant wasn’t tagged, but Ryan thought it looked so friendly that he almost hugged it took it home! We think it’s a type of Mammillaria. Grower: Cal Cactus.

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

A variegated Adenium. AKA desert rose, this plant grows some impressive caudices.

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

Hoyas are succulents too. The leaves of this Hoya meliflua ssp. fraterna are the biggest we’ve seen in this genus.

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

Eyes all over the Ferocactus variegata…

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

Ferocactus variegata. All variegated plants of this species are mutants. Rare, wonderful mutants.

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

A handsome Gymnocalycium spegazzinii. We love the grey backwards curling spines. We passed on buying this one, and almost immediately regretted it.

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

Astrophytum “Super Kabuto” resembles a mini-pumpkin. (Hence the name.)

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

Our eyes are often drawn toward the Astrophytums and Copiapoas.

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

Pseudolithos migiurtinus from Somalia are very rare succulent milkweeds. Although we have been warned that they tend to rot (and deflate) due to overwatering and underwatering (arg), we decided to give one a try. Grower: www.succulents.us.

Succulent show haul

San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society 2016 Plant Sale

Here’s the specimen we took home. Grower: Cactus Data Plants.

Senecio pendulus. Yemen and Saudi Arabia, www.succulents.us

Senecio pendulus, native to Yemen and Saudi Arabia. We’re in awe of this purple pattern. Grower: www.succulents.us.

Succulent show haul

Copiapoa barquitensis.

Copiapoa tenuissma.

That didn’t take long!

Succulent show haul

Succulent show haul

Echinocereus rigidissimus ssp rubispinus. Grower: www.succulents.us.

Echinocereus rigidissimus ssp rubispinus. www.succulents.us

Succulent show haul

Giant jewel plant (Aloinopsis malherbei) appreciates light shade and looks a bit like a galaxy.

Succulent show haul

Mammillaria plumosa.

Titanopsis calcarea. John Matthews Succulents.

Titanopsis calcarea. Grower: John Matthews Succulents.

Succulent show haul

Variegated German Ivy, Cape Ivy ‘Variegata’ (Senecio mikanioides). Grows well indoors too! A succulent that looks like ivy: What more could you ask for?

Gasteria batesiana. CRM Plants.

Gasteria batesiana. Grower: CRM Plants. The dark, rich color of the foliage indicates a tolerance for lower-light settings. In sunnier spots, the plant will develop ruby patches.

Echinocactus platyacanthus (central Mexico). C/T Parr Plants.

Echinocactus platyacanthus (native central Mexico). Grower: C/T Parr Plants.

2016 Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society Drought Tolerant Plant Festival

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Aeonium davidbramwellii.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Presentations included Matt Maggio’s “Landscaping with Aloes.”

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

John Matthews Plants.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Desert Creations Nursery got us googly-eyed over this large Astrophytum.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Sulcorebutia rauschii.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Rebutia ‘Sunrise’ and Rebutia heliosa ssp. heliosa.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Rebutia ‘Sunrise.’ We love the blueish color of the plant next to the pale pink flowers.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

This breathtaking variegated Echinopsis variety won 2nd place.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Astrophytum variety. Astounding.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Gymnocalycium: 2nd place.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Gymnocalycium.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Haworthia truncata variety, also known as horse’s teeth. (No kidding.) This species is native to South Africa, and orange varieties in particular are coveted.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Some day our baby Copiapoa tenuissma could look like this!

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Ariocarpus fissuratus cv. GODZILLA. Caps intentional. Submitted by Kal Kaminer. It won 1st place!

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

The sansevieria display. This genus goes way beyond the mother-in-law’s tongue you see in houseplant guides. We’re partial to the S. cylindrica!

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

A closer look at the sansevieria.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Turbinicarpus display.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Turbinicarpus schmiedickeanus crested.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Turbinicarpus sauri. The heavy wool-like spination is the plant’s reponse to environmental factors like high light intensity and hot and cold extremes. It also protects new growth areas and hides developing fruit from predators.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

The lithops display kind of resembled rows of collectible coins. It was one of our favorite installations!

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Two words: CACTUS COUCH.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Ryan continues to build his empire.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Snooping on the community garden at the Sepulveda Garden Center.

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Succulent show haul

Euphorbia susannae or Suzanne’s spurge. Grower: Desert Creations Nursery.

Succulent show haul

The names for this one are fun: Finger Mound, Peyotillo, Nipple Cactus…

2016 LACSS Drought Tolerant Show and Plant Sale

Gymnocalycium spegazzinii. We didn’t let this one slip away! Grower: Desert Creations Nursery.

Succulent show haul

Aloinopsis rubroliniata from Kyle’s Plants, a textured, low-key stunner.