(Echeveria)

Spreading relatively rapidly to form clumps of large silvery ground-hugging rosettes, this Mexican native is one of the most commonly grown echeverias. Comprising 20 or more spirally arranged, blue-green, silver-dusted leaves, each rosette can grow as wide as a dinner plate. The spade-shaped leaves terminate in a small bristle. A compact stem topped with a branching cluster of orange, bell-shaped flowers arises from the center of each rosette in late summer or early fall, attracting hummingbirds....

(Echeveria, Topsy Turvy Echeveria)

Literally a new twist on the Mexican native Echeveria runyonii, 'Topsy Turvy' has leaves that are curiously curled and folded. It spreads relatively rapidly to form clumps of large ground-hugging rosettes, each comprising 20 or more spirally arranged, blue-green, silver-dusted leaves. Each rosette can grow as wide as a dinner plate. The up-curled leaves are folded lengthwise, appearing chevron-shaped in cross section. A compact stem topped with a branching cluster of orange, bell-shaped...

(Ozark Coneflower, Yellow Coneflower)

An Ozark Mountain native, yellow coneflower boasts large, bright yellow flowerheads and is the only yellow-blooming species of Echinacea . This herbaceous perennial has rosettes or smooth, lance-shaped leaves from which arise many tall stems of flowers. Its sweetly fragrant blooms appear in midsummer and have yellow petals that surround a brown central disk, or cone. If deadheaded, plants may re-bloom until frost. Butterflies and bees frequent its blossoms and small seed-eating birds will...

(Echinocactus)

The genus Echinocactus is relatively small with just 15 species of slow growing cactus. Their native range extends from the American Southwest and deep into Mexico. These cacti are primarily barrel shaped, but also produce flattened, short cylindrical and many stemmed forms. Barrel cactus in general begin life as a near perfect or slightly flattened sphere that can elongate late in life. They produce occasional pups or offsets around the base which are often used to propagate new plants.

Echinocactus...

(Blue Barrel, Devil's Head Cactus, Melon Cactus)

Small in stature but large in flower, this cactus is often the brightest spot in an impossibly dry landscape. It is native to deserts of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The species also ranges well into Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert where they are most often found on steep rocky hillsides, often clinging to nearly vertical inclines where drainage is assured. This is a solitary cactus but may produce clumps with great age. The single stem is a small barrel with about 8 ribs bearing very dense rounded...

(Biznaga de Dulce , Giant Barrel)

In the wild this cactus can grow as tall as a man and twice as wide in diameter. Such proportions make it the largest of all barrel cactus on Earth, giving credence to a common name of "giant barrel." Very old specimens in habitat are a destination of every dedicated cactus enthusiast and admirer. The species is native to a huge range of northern and central Mexico on moderately sloping sandy or gravelly soils. In youth this is a globe-shaped, bright green barrel. Eventually it will bear from five...

(Horse Crippler, Texas Horse Crippler)

The fact that these barrel cacti have such a flat shape makes them dangerous to Texas cow ponies because one misstep and they’ve got a hoof full of spines. The species is native to a much larger range which includes rougher parts of New Mexico and Oklahoma southward into Mexico. It is typically found at sea level or the very toe foothills in these mountainous areas. This is indeed a barrel cactus that is far wider than it is tall, appearing as though it has been pressed too far into the earth. Each...

(Calico Cactus, Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus)

Cloaked in ferocious spines, this low spreading cactus is so adaptable it can be grown just about anywhere in the American southwest and even some states further north. This beautiful mounding cactus is from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, with populations occurring from sea level up to very alpine locations. It varies widely across its native range, resulting in the naming of several subspecies and varieties.

Engelman’s cactus is composed of many cylindrical stems...

(Hardy Hedgehog Cactus, Lace Hedgehog Cactus, Reichenbach's Hedgehog Cactus)

Fabulous flowers and a short, tidy habit make this a highly rewarding cactus for containers and rockeries. Rare in the wild, it occurs in dry, rocky scrub and grasslands from southeastern Colorado to northern Mexico. It is noted and named for its interlacing, starry clusters of stem-hugging, flattened spines.

The small, upright, football shaped stems of lace hedgehog cactus are initially single. Over time they produce pups and create clumps. Mature stems produce lots of striking pink, lavender-pink...

(Blue Echinops, Smaller Globe Thistle)

Prickly, thistle-like foliages is a deep green with silvery undersides is one pretty aspect of the blue echinops, but the showstopper is the rounded blue flower clusters in late summer. A upright, clump-forming perennial, it hails from southeastern Europe eastward into central Asia.

The dark green leaves are coarsely lobed, looking like leaves of a thistle or pointy-leaf oak. There are white fibers on the leaf edges at times and the undersides are a downy white-gray. In late summer stems are...