by High Country Gardens

I have a very wide range of interests when it comes to plants. Perennials, trees, shrubs, succulents, rock garden plants, native plants, South African plants; I’m fascinated by all these plant groups and many more. Having lived and gardened in New Mexico for the 30 years, one group of plants I have been growing since I was a teen, the cacti, have a special place in my garden.
As the climate and growing conditions in New Mexico have gotten drier and hotter, these native plants (found only in western hemisphere) have thrived and become the stars of my various xeric gardens. Here are some photos of my home xeriscape taken over the past few weeks. And the cacti have been especially stunning this spring. The colors of the flowers, the geometry of the spines and the musculature of the stems are as fascinating to me now as they were 40 years ago.
This is a spineless form of Claret Cup (Echinocereus triglochidiatus v. inermis) grown from seed originally collected in the mountains that straddle the Utah and Colorado state borders. Very rare in nature, this spineless form is highly sought after by collectors and cacti aficionados. But even gardeners with little experience growing cacti outdoors will be delighted to experience how easily it is grown in western xeriscapes. And the intensity of the red flowers is nothing short of breathtaking to any lover of flowers.
Behold, one of the gems in the Hedgehogs from Texas and Oklahoma, the very small clumping, white spined form of Reichenbach’s Hedge Hog (Echinocereus reichenbachii v. albispinus). Found In only in two limited areas in the world (near Troy and Tishoming, OK) this exquisitely rare cactus is also one of the most stunning plants you’ll ever grow. Like the spineless Claret Cup, this beauty is also easily grown in western xeriscapes.
Both these species are cold hardy to USDA zone 5 and require “lean” (infertile), well-drained soil. For best success, cacti should be planted bare-root, even in the heat of summer.* Like all our cacti, I grow these two from seed in our Santa Fe greenhouse facility. Hopefully, even those gardeners who thought they have no interest in cacti will try these native wildflowers a try in their dry gardens. Mix them together with other smaller growing xeric perennials and enjoy the show!
Sedum rupestre ‚SunSparkler® Wildfire‚ PP#28621 (Stonecrop) blazes with ruby red petals edged in hot pink. Late summer brings clusters of long-blooming pink flowers. It&...
Learn MoreSunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum SunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum Sedum 'Wildfire' PP#28,621As low as $11.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotSedum rupestre 'SunSparkler® Wildfire' PP#28621 (Stonecrop) blazes with ruby red petals edged in hot pink. Late summer brings clusters of long-blooming pink flowers. It’s an attention-worthy groundcover that will naturalize to fill a sunny, dry area. In fact, the more sun, the brighter the color. A perfect easy-to-grow addition to a rock garden, container, or any sunny spot that needs a water-thrifty color boost. Deer and rabbit resistant.Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata) is a handsome species with rosettes of thick, stout olive-green leaves and big spikes of showy ivory flowers in late spring....
Learn MoreBanana Yucca Banana Yucca Yucca baccataAs low as $14.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotBanana Yucca (Yucca baccata) is a handsome species with rosettes of thick, stout olive-green leaves and big spikes of showy ivory flowers in late spring.This new cultivar of Texas Yucca blooms all summer with six-foot tall spikes of glowing coral-orange flowers. A cross between a yellow and red flowered variety, Hesperaloe parviflora...
Learn MoreCoral Glow Texas Yucca (Hesperaloe) Coral Glow Texas Yucca Hesperaloe parviflora Coral Glow PP#29,626As low as $14.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotThis new cultivar of Texas Yucca blooms all summer with six-foot tall spikes of glowing coral-orange flowers. A cross between a yellow and red flowered variety, Hesperaloe parviflora Coral Glow PP#29,626 has been an outstanding performer.The softly shaded apricot and yellow tints of the large flowers of Alan‚s Apricot Ice Plant are a delight and keep the plant in color from late spring into late summer. Delospe...
Learn MoreAlan's Apricot Ice Plant Alan's Apricot Ice Plant Delosperma Alan's Apricot PPAFAs low as $8.99 Sale $8.09Per Plant - 2.5" PotThe softly shaded apricot and yellow tints of the large flowers of Alan's Apricot Ice Plant are a delight and keep the plant in color from late spring into late summer. Delosperma ‘Alan’s Apricot’ is a cold hardy ice plant 2016 Plant Select® Winner. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric). 2" tall x 15" wide.A carefree little succulent native plant, Phemeranthus calycinum ‚Judith‚s Favorite‚ (Fame Flower) has quarter-sized rose-violet flowers that open in the afternoon ...
Learn MoreJudith's Favorite Fame Flower (Phemeranthus) Judith's Favorite Fame Flower Phemeranthus calycinum Judith's Favorite$9.99Per Plant - 2.5" PotA carefree little succulent native plant, Phemeranthus calycinum 'Judith's Favorite' (Fame Flower) has quarter-sized rose-violet flowers that open in the afternoon heat. A willing re-seeder, these little plants gently colonize their garden site and bloom all summer. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).Our Succulent Groundcover Collection features versatile, must-have plants for xeriscaping. Long-blooming Ice Plants (Delosperma), and colorful Creeping Sedum offer color and texture,...
Learn MoreSucculent Groundcover Collection Succulent Groundcover Collection$59.99 Sale $47.19Sale Price I Save 21%Per Collection of 7Our Succulent Groundcover Collection features versatile, must-have plants for xeriscaping. Long-blooming Ice Plants (Delosperma), and colorful Creeping Sedum offer color and texture, with blooms from late spring through summer. These low-growing, low-water succulents can be planted to brighten gravel gardens and rock gardens, planted among stepping stones or in containers, or layered beneath taller plants in your waterwise garden. A great low-water lawn alternative for hot, dry sites.Straight Up Red Texas Yucca PPAF is an everblooming yucca that produces a summer-long display of red-pink flowers held on strongly upright growing flower spikes. 2017 Plant of The Ye...
Learn MoreStraight Up Red Texas Yucca (Hesperaloe) Straight Up Red Texas Yucca Hesperaloe parviflora Straight Up RedAs low as $14.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotStraight Up Red Texas Yucca PPAF is an everblooming yucca that produces a summer-long display of red-pink flowers held on strongly upright growing flower spikes. 2017 Plant of The Year.Agave havardiana (Havard‚s Century Plant) grows to an imposing size (30„ tall x 36„ wide) at maturity! Native to the Glass Mountains of west Texas, this succulent h...
Learn MoreHavard's Century Plant (Agave) Havard's Century Plant Agave havardiana (Glass Mts, TX Form)$12.99 Sale $9.34Sale Price I Save 28%Per Plant - 2.5" PotAgave havardiana (Havard's Century Plant) grows to an imposing size (30" tall x 36" wide) at maturity! Native to the Glass Mountains of west Texas, this succulent has proven itself to be very cold-hardy. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).