Common name:Twin-spined Cactus
Botanical name:Mammillaria geminispina
Silvery white spines cover whitey cactus (Mammillaria geminispina), a mounding cactus from Mexico, throughout the year. Brilliant hot pink flowers are produced in a ring around the apical meristem (growing point) from late spring through fall, attracting various pollinating insects, while the spines deter predation by herbivores. The small pinkish red fruit are often present at the same time as the flowers, if pollinators are present. It does best in full sun with dry, well draining soil. Established plants are drought tolerant. May take 7-8 years before blooms appear.
Common name:Cow's Horn Agave
Botanical name:Agave bovicornuta
This succulent will grow at a moderate rate to 3' x 3-4'. It has an open rosette form and dark green leaves edged with decorative reddish brown teeth. The tips of the leaves are very sharp. Somewhat cold sensitive. After many years, yellow flowers appear on a stalk late winter to spring. Like most agaves, it will die after flowering, but it will form offsets. Does best with partial shade. Susceptible to Agave Snout Weevil. Native to Sonora and Chihuahua.
Designer: Ruth Bancroft Garden
Photographer: Vicki Anderson
Maintain a two to four inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to reduce weeds, infiltrate rain water, and reduce compaction.
Remove irrigation water and fertilizer from areas where you don't want weeds to grow.
