With forms that range from tall and statuesque columns to cushions or dangling tentacles, cacti make original sculptural plants for the house, conservatory, greenhouse and garden!
Belonging to the Cactaceae family, cacti are succulents and have fleshy stems. They are distinguished from other succulents by their aeroles, the pad-like shoots from which flowers, new growth, wool and spines develop.
Most cacti have spines, which can be straight, curved (a bit like me!), or hooked, long or short, stout and sharp or hair-like. The central spines emerge from the middle of the aerole and are usually stronger and larger that the radial spines, which rise from the outer part.
Although most cacti flower regularly, those that grow very large in the wild are unlikely to bloom when cultivated. The flowers are generally unstalked and funnel shaped and may be any colour but blue. They are usually un-scented but some of those that bloom at night emit a powerful scent to attract pollinating bats and moths. Small fleshy fruits develop after flowering; these appear on only a few cultivated species.
Cacti are native to the Americas, except for
Rhipsalis (I have one in my garden with pink flowers), a species mainly from Sri Lanka and humid parts of Africa. None of the recommended plants are hardy. There are two distinct types of cacti: desert cacti and rain forst cacti.
I have a garden dedicated to cacti at the back of our house, we have yet to move the fence so that we can see it all but we have weeded everything and cleared it - perfect habitat for cacti - I will take images when they are a bit bigger because they are hard to see at the moment!
What I do take will be placed onto our Flickr Photo Album for Campo Girls & Hoes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23947924@N08/ - Flickr Gardening Album
