A High Desert Garden

Discuss hardy cacti grown outside all year.
Tony
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Post by Tony »

I guess Im going to have to find that Delosperma for my garden, way cool. 8)

Everythings looking great John! :)
Forget the dog...Beware of the plants!!!

Tony
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Melt In The Sun
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Post by Melt In The Sun »

A similar-looking "iceplant" is Drosanthemum floribundum, which I've found very easy to grow. I bet it would do OK in Florida, if not too well!
RayC
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Post by RayC »

Harriet wrote:Pictures like those of your Delosperma are what made me try to grow some. The lesson learned is that Delosperma does NOT like Florida. I really wish it did!
Mine did not like Connecticut winter and expired. Was nice for one summer though
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

This particular delosperma is a tiny little gem. It forms a tight little mat about five inches across with leaves about half an inch tall. The leaves all pointing toward the sky. The flowers are half inch across a little smaller than a dime. (I know they look bigger in the photos! :wink: ) It is an alpine and will take full sun but it likes low humidity and cool evening temps. It only sets one flush of bloom early in the spring but oh what a show!!

There are many species of delosperma that can take the heat and full sun, but all like low humidity. Delosperma cooperi, Delosperma dyeri, Delosperma floribunda, and Delosperma ashtonii are a few that I grow but are just the tip of the iceberg. Many more are available but are too tender to withstand my winters.
I grow two that need afternoon shade to look their best Delosperma nubigenum and Delosperma basuticum.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
iann
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Post by iann »

Is that Delosperma sphalmanthoides in the garden? I tried that and it dissolved as soon as the autumn rains came. Under cover I don't give it a second thought even in the last two freakishly cold winters.

Your two "shade" Delospermas probably just can't take the heat. Both are found only at very high altitude and are not shrinking violets about being in the sun. Mine freak out if I try to keep them in the greenhouse. I have several other Delospermas that also can't take high heat. Strangely enough D. sphalmanthoides seems to cope with summer heat but I think it shuts down until it cools off.
--ian
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Harriet
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Post by Harriet »

Apparently they aren't called "iceplants" for nothing! :wink:
It’s not the fall that kills you; it’s the sudden stop at the end.
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Peterthecactusguy
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Post by Peterthecactusguy »

John. cool thanks for the info. I will keep that in mind. I doubt that your one would like it here too much, but dunno maybe! :)
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

ian
I'm sure you are right about the heat affecting Delosperma nubigenum and Delosperma basuticum. This is often the case with alpine species from many Genera. The bigger problem is the combining high heat with high humidity. That is like a double whammy, it seems to be a deadly combination for most alpines.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
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Peterthecactusguy
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Post by Peterthecactusguy »

I saw the name for the cold hardy ones that were cold hardy to -10. It was Delosperma cooperii (or culterii) I cant remember which. But I am thinking about picking up some of them. They seemed to do ok in heat and full sun from the labeling.
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

We are finally getting enough warmth to help bud up the cacti.
Here are some companion plants, my first Echinocereus blossoms of the year and new acquisitions.
Echinocereus engelmannii var. chrysocentrus
Image
Echinocereus ledingii
Image
Echocereus rigidissimus
Image
Pediocactus simpsonii
Image
Erigeron compositus
Image
Viola purpurea ssp. venosa
Image
Lastly the first meager Echinocereus blossoms of the season. Echinocereus knippelianus var. krugerii
Image
:wink:
Image
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
peterb
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Post by peterb »

Gorgeous! Cool that you are growing that Echinocereus outside. Great flowers.

peterb
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

Echinocereus knippelianus sails through my winters with no problems. It's even throwing a pup out. :D
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
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Arjen
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Post by Arjen »

great looking plants, that pedio flower is stunning!
With apologies to the late Professor C. D. Darlington the following misquotation springs to
mind ‘cactus taxonomy is the pursuit of the impossible by the incompetent’ - Fearn & Pearcy, Rebutia (1981)
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Peterthecactusguy
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Post by Peterthecactusguy »

John, cool neat plants, nice to see you can grow an Echinocereus outside!

And its nice that it's putting out a pup.
Here's to you, all you insidious creatures of green..er I mean cacti.
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Andy_CT
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Post by Andy_CT »

John P Weiser wrote:Echinocereus knippelianus sails through my winters with no problems. It's even throwing a pup out. :D
You have me intrigued. I may just put this one into my next seed order.
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