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Cold Hardy Native Cacti Collection

$99.99
$99.99 $0.00
per Collection of 5
Sale |
ZONES  4-10 | Good to grow! Zone

• Our Cold Hardy Native Cacti Collection features five Echinocereus varieties grown from seeds collected in Colorado and Kansas
• Vivid early-spring flowers and spiny textures are ideal for beautiful pollinator-friendly xeriscaping
• Specimens were sustainably collected by Jeff Thompson and propagated by Tim Hanis
• Exclusively available from High Country Gardens
• Order early – there are very limited quantities of this collection!

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Cold Hardy Native Cacti Collection

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Description

Order our limited edition Cold Hardy Native Cacti Collection to experiment with these desert gems in your yard! Cold-hardy cacti not only bring a fascinating botanical element to your xeric garden —they also provide important nectar sources for pollinating insects early in the spring before other plants bloom. Take the time to observe your cacti in flower and you will see the flowers alive with native bees and tiny pollinating wasps in all shapes, colors, and sizes.

The seeds for these cacti selections were gathered by Jeff Thompson, a friend of David Salman. They were cultivated by Tim Hanis, a renowned seed collector specializing in unique and rare cacti, succulents, and perennials. Tim began growing western native plants in the mid-1990s and started collecting seeds for High Country Gardens in the early 2000s. Tim has spent years sustainably propagating and growing the cacti in this collection.

Although we think of cacti as being strictly low-desert plants, many species are found in very cold, harsh environments. The greatest concentration of cold-hardy cacti species is found in Mexico northward into Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas. As more and more gardeners experiment with the various cold-hardy species, we can look to plant them more widely and expand their usefulness as garden plants into a much larger portion of the United States.

Name Collection Details Description Form
Ecinocereus coccineus'Huerfano Giants' (Hedgehog Cactus) Echinocereus coccineus
'Huerfano Giants

(Hedgehog Cactus)		 Huerfano County, Colorado
Jeff Thompson
JRT 191		 Zone 4 - Massive clumping shorter stem plants, with orange red trumpet flowers in mid spring. Tolerates clay. H: 15" tall
W: 5" wide stem
Clumper
Echinocereus coccineus Echinocereus coccineus
(Hedgehog Cactus)		 Saguache County, Colorado
Jeff Thompson

JRT 190
 Zone 4 - Close to 8,000 ft. High arching clumping stems, with a lot of spine types, even long and wavy. Orange red trumpet flowers. H: 15" tall
W: 5" wide stem
Echinocereus perbellus 'Red Top Ranch' Echinocereus ssp. perbellus
'Red Top Ranch'
(Lace Cactus)		 Pueblo County, Colorado
Jeff Thompson
JRT 107		 Zone 4 - 6,000 ft. Single squatty stems that tend to disappear back into the ground during the winter months. Pink to magenta flowers in June. H: 15" tall
W: 4" wide stem
Often a clumper
Echinocereus triglochidiatus Echinocereus triglochidiatus
(Claret Cup Cactus)		 Fremont County, Colorado
Jeff Thompson
JRT 172		 Zone 4 - Semi-clumping stems with lighter to darker spines. Nice scarlet trumpet flowers in spring. H: 8-12" tall
W: 4" wide stem
Clumper
Echinocereus viridiflorus Echinocereus viridiflorus
(Prairie Hedgehog Cactus)		 Morton County, Kansas
Jeff Thompson
JRT 1331		 Zone 5 - 7,000 ft. Green, slightly larger than standard especially when grown at lower elevations. Chartreuse flowers in early spring. H: 8-10" tall
W: 1-3" wide stem

Planting & Care

Tips for Growing Cacti and Succulents

Cacti shipped early in the spring may be dormant. As the weather warms, these cacti will expand and green-up. Remember, after an initial watering to settle the soil around the roots, no further water should be applied until the weather warms up. If plants are dormant and the spring weather is rainy, protect the plants from too much moisture by covering them with a gallon plastic milk container with the bottom cut out. Leave the top off the jug so heat build up isn’t excessive in sunny weather.

Soil Preparation

All the species of hardy cacti and succulents require fast-draining soil.

Planting in the ground

Put the plants on a slope or raised area of the garden, not in a low spot which collects water. Select a bed with full sun exposure, preferably next to a south or west facing wall. These areas will provide extra winter warmth. In heavy clay soils, it is essential to replace half or more of the soil from a 10”x 10” or larger hole with coarse sand and gravel mixed thoroughly with the remaining soil to ensure adequate drainage. No compost should be added, only a small handful of Planters II and Yum Yum Mix®.

Planting in an outdoor pot or planter

Use a planting mix of 3 parts garden soil + 2 parts coarse sand + 2 parts coarse perlite (or similar material). When growing plants indoors in pots, use a good quality potting
soil to mix with the sand, and expanded shale instead of garden soil.

Planting Instructions

1. Cacti, agaves, and tap-rooted succulents (Aloinopsis, Titanopsis, Nananthus) should be transplanted bare-root. Let the soil in the pot dry out for a few days. Then remove the pot and gently loosen the soil so it falls away from the roots. Trim off any broken roots. Bare root plants should then be planted into a shallow hole. Spread out the roots evenly and sprinkle the soil into the hole until full. The base of the plant should rest on top of the soil. Mulch with a 1⁄2”-1” thick layer of pea-sized gravel around the base of the plant to protect it from contact with soggy soil over the winter months. (See planting diagram on page 12 of our Planting Guide.)

2. Succulents with fibrous roots (Ruschia, Delosperma, Sedum, and others) need not be transplanted bare-root, instead, the root ball should be scored and roughed out like
other perennials.

Watering

1. Bare-root cacti and tap-rooted succulents must not be watered right away, but should sit dry for a day or two to allow the roots to callus over any broken or damaged
areas. Other succulents can be watered in right away. Water thoroughly with a mixture of SeaCom-PGR and Superthrive to stimulate strong new root growth. Water again with this mixture two weeks later.

2. Outdoor beds with new plants should be initially watered once every 5 to 7 days for the first month or so after transplanting. Cacti and succulents enjoy regular watering
during the heat of the summer and will grow vigorously. After the first year, most cacti species need a good soaking only once every 2-4 weeks during the spring and summer if there has been no rain.

3. Potted plants require more frequent, regular watering, especially if the weather is hot and dry.

4. To prepare cacti and succulents for the approach of winter, begin withholding water in the fall so the plants can begin to dehydrate and shrivel. Plump, well watered plants are ripe for cold damage when temperatures plunge in late fall/early winter.

Fertilizing

Cacti and succulents are very modest in their fertilizer requirements. When planted in the ground, fertilizing in spring with SeaCom-PGR and Yum Yum Mix® will encourage plentiful flowers and good stem growth. When planted in pots, remember to feed monthly with the same mixture as above, beginning in late summer.

Winter Protection

Garden plants: Many cacti and succulents are quite cold hardy if kept dry in the cold winter and spring months. In areas that receive a lot of winter and spring moisture
(especially rain), it is strongly recommended that plants be protected from cold, wet soil conditions. For example, a temporary cold frame can be constructed using pipe or
PVC hoops covered with a clear plastic sheet to cover the entire bed. Or individual plants can be covered with plastic gallon milk jugs with the bottom cut out to keep
the ground around the plants dry. Leave the top off the jug so heat build up isn’t excessive in sunny weather. Problems will occur if plants are in wet soil all winter or
sit under melting snow for extended periods.

Potted plants: Should be moved under a roof overhang on the south or west side of the house or placed in a well ventilated cold frame. Water pots and other containers lightly a few times over the winter during warm spells.

All our cacti, agaves and succulents are seed-grown or cutting-grown in our greenhouses. Cacti and agave plants are 2-4 years old; succulents are 1-2 years old. Please, never collect cacti from the wild unless it’s to rescue plants from construction sites. Many species are close to extinction in their native habitats due to irresponsible collectors.

Shipping

As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.

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key features

Advantages
  • Bee Friendly
  • Attracts Beneficial Insects
  • Native
  • Evergreen
  • Fragrant
  • Container Planting
  • Small Spaces
  • Rock Gardens
  • Deer Resistant
  • Rabbit Resistant
Tolerates
  • Occasional Drought
  • High Altitude
  • Low Fertility
Light Requirements
  • Full Sun
Bloom Time
Early spring to early summer

Additional information

Soil Moisture
  • Waterwise
  • Very Waterwise
Soil Type
  • Well-Drained Soil
Mature Height
Heights vary from 8-15" tall
Growing Zones
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9
  • Zone 10
Ideal Region
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Southwest
  • West
Native To
Colorado, Kansas
Special Groups
  • High Country Gardens Exclusive
Neonicotinoid Free
Yes
Non-GMO
No
Ships As
Potted Plant
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