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Large hybrid Echeveria with lovely red & purple toned rosette to 40 cm+ diameter. Repot regularly for best results. Excellent outdoor subject. Brightest light for good form & colours.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Lipstick Plant. 20cm rosette, OK in pot or garden. Best red-edged colouring in bright light. Most Echeverias are easy rosettes which cluster and have red to yellow fl's on drooping flowerstalks.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

A Frank Reinelt hybrid which forms slightly blue, crinkly-leaved rosettes to about 25cm diameter with few offsets. Easy to grow, suits bright well drained frost-free location.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Beautiful Mexican species to 30cm diameter with intensely white-pruinose leaves tinged and edged with pink. Red flowers. If indoors needs brightest light possible. OK in garden also.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Rumpled Foreskin Plant. Fascinating carunculations force the leaves into their bizarre tubular shape. Grow in bright light, and refrain from fingering the foreskins as they will mark easily.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

This Mexican species forms alabaster-white rosettes which offset and eventually form low clumps. Flowers are pink with a yellowish tip. Grows well outdoors and in rockery.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Choice slow-growing plant with variably mutating leaves showing stripes and indented leaf edges.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Prized and interesting cultivar whose fleshy leaves have variable-shaped margins, prone to mutating within one rosette. Can be temperamental and prone to botrytis in winter. Bright light and warmth needed.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Form or cultivar of Echeveria gilva. Compact rosettes to 15cm across suffused with red tones. Flowers orange, small, insignificant. Best in bright light with good drainage. OK outdoors.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Choice multi-coloured mutant cultivar.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Light grey precisely circular rosettes.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Uncommon hybrid Echeveria with lavender/lilac tinted rosettes to 50cm diameter. Flowers orange on long inflorescences. OK outdoors in well drained position with bright light. Re-pot at least six monthly if in a pot.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Choice hybrid, named for its gorgeous volcanic colours. Expect marvellous blood-red carunculations on the older leaves. Repot regularly. Bright light. Outdoors in the garden it reddens in winter.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Tiny blue-grey rosettes with blunt leaves, red-tipped in bright light position. Slowly forms into a small tight mound. Yellow flowers on arching raceme. Mound forming. OK outdoors and in rockery.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

That is, the Pearl of Nuremburg hybrid. Medium-sized rosette noted for its purple leaf colour which intensifies beautifully in strong light. OK inside & out, in a pot or in the ground.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Species from Mexico. Medium size rosettes of grey-green leaves with dark red edges. Offsets prolifically forming low clumps. Flowers bright yellow on small inflorescences. Good outdoors in well drained sunny position.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Large growing rosette, a bit like Echeveria 'Ruby Lips'.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Very tall growing species with stout stems topped with a rosette of fuzzy leaves to 30cm across. Orange flowers on a long stem in late autumn. Easy outdoors in well drained position or a large pot. Repot regularly.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Thick almost cylindrical leaves form a whitey-grey rosette to about 20cms diameter (on a wellgrown older one). Indoor plant for pot. Needs bright light.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Odd but easy hybrid Echeveria. In bright light the whitey-blue leaves eventually arch back over the rosette. They also carunculate. Outdoors OK, in pots or in ground, and very frost-hardy.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Stunning hybrid that develops its best colours late winter/early spring. Rosettes to 40cm across, usually without offsets. Best in bright light. Re-pot regularly to maintain good growth. OK outdoors.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Golden Barrel Cactus. A classic in the genre, grows slowly to 1m diameter. Water once a month but not at all in the cold of winter. Needs bright light for good spination. If outdoors give warmest position, best drainage etc.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Largest of all globular cacti; to about 1 tonne in time (lots of time). More ribs arrive at the shoulder every year, up to 55 ribs later, for your grandkids to count. Keep in bright light and dry in winter and water sparingly otherwise.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Branches have fiercesome flat straw-like spines to 8cm long. Flowers pink, to 10cm diameter. Plant to 60cm diameter, freely branching from the base. It can handle cold winters if completely dry.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

A beautiful cactus.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Lau 88, the attractive red to pink spined cactus from Mexico, grows slowly to about 30 cm high, usually without offsets. Large bright pink flowers in spring. Grow indoors in a bright sunny position.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

Schick hybrid. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

CC hybrid with stunning large deep orange flowers, produced in numbers, and up to three flushes per summer are possible. Named for our very lovely nieces, Ashley and Brooke. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors or in the garden in many areas.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Schick hybrid. Huge flowers w. layered salmon petals, giving an unusual flat profile. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Huge lemon trumpet-shaped flowers in summer. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Paramount hybrid, the best!! Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

CC hybrid. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

CC hybrid. Delicate 22 x 11 cm flowers, pure lavendar inner to plum outer petals, in spring. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Unusually large rotund bodies. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Beautiful, large 13cm magenta flowers with a seashell stripe on the outer petals. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Small (9 cm) carmine-red many-petalled flowers in summer. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

CC hybrid. This one very beautiful and scented. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Huge pink flowers with serrated petals (hence the name) in summer. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Huge pink trumpet-shaped flowers in summer. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors or in the garden in many areas.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Naked bodies with huge white flowers in summer. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Trumpet-shaped flowers in summer. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Schick hybrid. Huge apricot trumpet-shaped flowers in summer. Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Echinopsis are like mini-Trichocereus and like a big pot or free rootrun. They scar when underpotted or underwatered. OK outdoors in garden in many areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Rare stapeliad from dry areas of northern Africa. Forms dense mats of spiny stems with extremely beautiful star-shaped flowers patterned like a Persian carpet. Indoors only in bright warm position.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

Super Epiphyllum hybrid with large tricoloured flowers (red outer, white inner, pink stripes in between). Suits hanging basket in mild to hot temps and low to bright light. Likes water when hot.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Very slow growing Mexican miniature needing restrained watering and high light levels. Spination merits close inspection. Bright red fruit are a bonus also. Indoors only.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Black, slowgrowing sometimes spineless miniature from the harsh Copiapo Desert of Chile. Turnip root anchors it, and apparently it sees the light through the transparency of the sand grains above. Indoors only, water sparingly.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Slow growing, solitary, black spined cactus from coastal deserts of northern Chile. Flowers bicoloured pink and pale yellow. Needs excellent drainage and not too much water. Bright light, indoors only.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Comments later, too busy right now!

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Small spiny shrub needing water when growing, (and none if dead). Rows of beads of tiny bright yellow flowers dot the stems making a cheery sight in winter. Indoors only in bright light.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

One of the best of the south Madagascan miniatures. Roundish dark green leaves on the ends of the branches which arise from the fat bonsai-like stem and raiseable rootstock. Keep in partial shade, indoors only.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

Sculpturally formed outdoor shrub to 1m x 1m., with naked trunk and much-branched crown. Many clusters of burgundy flowers in late winter. Looks at its best in winter.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Recently discovered in a very tiny area on the exposed rocky summit of Baio Mountain, Kenya. For us, though, an indoor plant, to 30cm. Tiny bright yellow flowers on numerous stems.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

S.Africa. Deciduous summer leaves and green flowers adorn the top of the thick, eventually columnar, pineapple-like stem. Withhold water when leafless. In NZ a house plant only.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Fat-rooted with radiating branches that colour up in bright light, which is essential for good shape. Indoors only in NZ.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Cactus-looking succulent from the Canary Islands. To 3 metres, probably less in NZ, slightly frost-tolerant but keep in warm position. If potgrown keep repotted regularly (max 2 yrs).

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

A lovely southern Madagascan miniature. Silvery erect or spreading branches end in a cluster of pointed, channelled, and undulate green leaves. The fat sculptural stembase and raiseable rootstock make this a great SMOLA subject.

6.Indoors OK, but not for beginners, Outdoors not OK.

S.African shrub eventually to 1.5m., with rounded bluish branches. (Theoretically, rhizomatous.) Bright yellow contrasting flowers produced occasionally. Prob. OK in mild gardens. Needs bright light.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Beautifully marked tree Euphorbia. Cold sensitive so don't be too ambitious growing it outdoors!

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Madagascan miniature. Matforming plant with small cute flowers, increasing by branching and stolons. Suits a bowl presentation in a warm position, slightly shaded.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Very choice non-stoloniferous variant of Eu.cylindrifolia with a discoidal tuber or caudex, and radiating short branches. Suits a bonsai presentation. Water sparingly esp. when cold. Medium to bright light. Indoors only.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Tallest of the spiny Madagascan Euphorbias, to 2.5m ht. Complex spination bears close inspection. Flowers small, green in dense groups of up to 64. Untried outdoors; maybe OK if well drained & frost-free.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Madagascan small bush to 40cm. Open branched with leaves only at the ends, exposing the lovely silvery-whitish stems which make this species special. Is "similar to milii" just like platinum is similar to tinfoil. Prob OK in mild gardens.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

A tree Euphorbia from Madagascar. Ultimately to around 3 meters high with flattened branches, bright red and velvety on new growth. OK outdoors in well drained frost-free area in full sun.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Choice little many-headed mounder from S.Africa, with attractively thick pink/purple spines. Easy to grow in pots but also OK out in the garden in Nelson and other mild areas.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Forms mat of interconnected globular segments. Must have brightest light to keep segments from elongating. Interesting flowers need cleaning up when finished.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Small tree Euphorbia to just 2m notable for the showy radiating yellowish markings on the four-sided pyramidally segmented branches. Untried outdoors in NZ, but OK in Mpumalanga.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Treelike in shape this South African can attain 15m height! Ascending branches hold numerous whorls of 3-sided, thin, prickled branchlets. Excellent slow landscaping specimen in good soil. Mild frosts OK.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Conspicuous & continuous white margin between the paired spines. A low and bushy form, it later sheds branches to show a short trunk. From Mozambique, hence may be difficult outdoors in NZ.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Rosette of tortured spiralling arms atop a thick raiseable rootstock. Treat as an indoor bonsai subject. Coarser and fewer-branched than E. tortirama. Not difficult.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Rare unusual Madagascan. Twiggy shrub to 1.5 meters high with a large water storing tuber to 20cm thick. Flowers numerous, small and greenish. Easy to grow in a pot but untried outdoors.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

One of the medusa head euphorbias. This one has long thin branches and quite pretty white flowers produced in profusion in late summer.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Most massive Euphorbia from southern Africa, to 10m+. Fast-growing in ground or large pot. Fairly frost tolerant once taller. Yellow flowers and capsules. Juveniles have mottled stems.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Recently discovered and critically endangered spineless species from Madagascar where it becomes a tree to 3 meters high with a dense crown of leafless velvety branches. Needs bright light. Worth trying outdoors.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Indian Milk Tree. Tree Euphorbia from India with attractively mottled stems and small spines. Easy to grow in bright sunny position and suitable for warm positions outdoors. Repot regularly, in largish pot.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

White variegated form of a crested succulent. Alabaster white twisted oddity. Often called 'Coral Cactus' which is odd considering that it is not a cactus, that it was derived from plants living wild about an Atlantic away from the nearest cactus, and that Monvillea spegazzini Crest had, with good reason, claimed the name a half century earlier. Easy to grow in bright sunny position and possibly suitable for outdoors in a warm well-drained spot.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Nicely structured shrub to 1m x 1m., with naked trunk, much-branched crown, and glaucous leaves. Large showy clusters of green flowers in spring and summer. Outdoors only, fast-growing.

1.Outdoors only, (grows weakly indoors).

Madagascan shrub to 70cm, sometimes with a few ascending branches. 5-sided bristle-edged stems. Prolific with its inconsequential flowers. Tender outdoors.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Not a cactus! Much branched cactus-like shrub to 1.2m; from Transvaal. Lovely colour combination when yellow flowers appear in September. Not sure yet of its outdoors capability in NZ.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Excellent hybrid of Terry Sibley of Otara. Brownskinned beauty derived from E.bupleurifolia. Offsets freely in time. Suggest indoors only.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Of mixed parentage possibly involving E.gorgonis and E.pugniformis, this "medusa-head type' forms a central caudex with numerous radiating arms. Seems to be outdoor capable and quite tough.. Needs bright light.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Large pink flowers (3cm) in clusters on erect-growing small shrubs with leaves. Easy to grow. Outdoors OK in mild areas.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Crested form of an Indian Tree Euphorbia. Easy to grow but keep wetness out of the folds during colder weather.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Rare freak that arose at Coromandel Cacti in about 2003. 7 years later it was separated from the mother plant.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

From northern Madagascar, has an unusual spiralling stem to 80cm high. Flowers small, greenish on much branched inflorescence. Keep dry when leaves drop in winter. Indoors only in bright light.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Comments later, too busy right now!

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Bizarre miniature camouflaged to disappear on the Alluaudia forest floor. Flattened mottled red-brown stems radiate from a raiseable heavy rootstock. There are both erect and prostrate forms. Not difficult, indoors only probably.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Colourful hybrid forming a bush to 50 cms high with many stubby branches and an overall purplish hue. Grows well outdoors in a frost-free, well-drained, sunny position, or indoors in brightest light.

3.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK in warm, well-drained position in mild areas.

Shrubby red-spined CC hybrid to 40cms height. Fatter than E.enopla. Flowers on the end of new spines at stem tips. Grow in bright light. Worth trying outdoors only in frost-free well-drained situation.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.

Mound-former from the Atlas Mountains, Morocco. By repeated and dense-packed branching becomes a mound to 60cm+ in diameter. In NZ seems tolerant of rockery situations in at least mild areas.

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Tree-like to 8m high and fat stem to 50 cm diameter! Vigorous, upwardly mobile and probably fairly hardy as it comes from hilly areas of India. Leaves soon drop and leave trunk naked. Try outdoors?

2.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK, easy to grow.

Small, square-stemmed, cereiform, succulent shrub from sizzling Brazil. Grows to 1 meter high with many branches. Flowers dark red and glossy. Best indoors in bright sunny spot. Untried outdoors but possibly OK in frost-free area

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Brilliant white cultivar growing columnarily to about 30cm height, and also offsetting. Flowers are red and yellow and make a wonderful contrast. Indoors is easy, outdoors is a bit experimental.

4.Indoors OK, Outdoors OK only if protected from winter rain.