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Basally branching columnar cactus to 7 meters high. From Mexico, where it is planted in rows as a living fence. Flowers tiny, pink or white. OK outdoors in well drained frost-free area.

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

The famous Cardon of Mexico, tallest cactus in the world, the record being 19.2 m (63 ft). Cardon is derived from the Spanish "cardo" for thistle..... some thistle!

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

'Sugared Almonds', 'Moonstones' Very succulent plant from Mexico. Easy, but needs very bright light to keep it compact and white. Lovely, thick waxy flowers spring to early summer (white & deep red).

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

Perhaps the choicest of all Pachypodium species with a swollen belly trunk, stout sexy paired spination, large white flowers, and forming a perfectly pleasing plant about 1 m high. Best in bright light indoors.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Slow growing South African species, forming a large silvery caudex with compact spiny branches. Flowers produced throughout the year, bell-shaped crimson & white. Full sun, possibly OK outdoors.

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

One of the rarest and most sought after Pachypodiums. Grows slowly to 1 meter across yet only a few centimeters high; a vegetable pancake! Grow indoors only, sunny and warm. Yellow flowers on long stems in spring.

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

Chunky Madagascan species forming compact well shaped specimens. Flowers small, deep yellow on long stems in spring. Indoors only in brightest light. Leaves drop in winter (keep dry until new growth appears).

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Although similar to Pachypodium lamerei this species has much longer, thinner leaves and is more sensitive to cold. In habitat reaches 10 meters high but can be grown for many years in a pot. Flowers white, rarely seen.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Madagascan pachycaul. Yellow bell-shaped flowers on 80cm long stems when mature. Water once or twice (lightly) in winter when dormant, more frequently in summer when growing. Pot subject, best grown hard, bright and slow.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

This new Madagascan has lovely white flowers and very narrow leaves. Starts skinny but then forms up into a fat lump with ascending short and spiny branches. Indoors only, withhold water when dormant (leafless) in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Form of Pachypodium lamerei which is fatter and shorter and flowers at a smaller height (at 1 - 2 metres ht). Broad leaves too. Seems easy to grow, but outdoors would be a challenge and only for the best position.

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

Seed was from cultn in a Zimb. garden, its Madagascan locality now unknown. Can flower at a height of 1 - 2 m., but seems thin-trunked. Note: check P.menabeum? Easy to grow, but outdoors would be only for the best position.

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

Hybrid of two South African species. Easy to grow and very variable in appearance. Grows nearly all year round, but may exhibit short dormant periods when leaves all drop. Best in full sun. Flowers red, or pink and white.

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

Millionaire's Daffodils. Showy yellow flowers on long stems crown this needle-spined Madagascan pachycaul. Water when actively growing. Unlikely to go dormant in winter, but keep drier. Has succeeded in perfect garden locations.

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

Close relative of P. lamerei. Taller but not as succulent. Becomes tree-like with huge white flowers in Madagascar. In NZ probably suitable for bright, high indoor situations only .

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

S.African pachycaul. Super-thick silvery trunk, crinkly appletree leaves, beautiful frilled and scented white flowers in autumn. Keep dry during winter dormancy.

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

Small, rare and slow growing, one of the red-flowerd Pachypodium species. Close to P.baronii but smaller leaves and flask shaped stem has bizarre bulbous possibilities. Keep warm, sunny, and indoors.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Strange rod-shaped Euphorbia relative; grows to 1.5m high. Flowers similar to Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) flowers, orange, 15mm long but not often seen. Grow in bright light/sun. Possibly OK outdoors if frost-free.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Winter-growing miniature with huge appeal in its natural format of thick branches pleasingly shaped onto a short stout trunk and tipped with rich green textured leaves. Easy to grow, indoors is best.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

From the Klinghardt Mtns in Namibia, this desirable pachycaul has fleshy leaves on thumby branches from a heavy trunk. Grow in very bright light with infrequent watering. Usually dormant in summer. Flowers white. Indoors only.

7.Winter grower. Needs water in winter, not summer.

Discovered in Peru in 1963 this charming miniature has short stems clad densely in thick and windowed leaves. Medium light and water required. Loves warmth. Probably tricky outdoors?

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Monstrose or cristate, this is a new twist on the Peruvian miniature, the extremely short branches are clad densely in thick, windowed leaves. Medium light and water required. Loves warmth. Probably tricky outdoors?

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Mini shrub to 25 cms with remarkable red leaves with an interesting window along their upper surface. The flower raceme is very cute, like a long thin rats-tail, and smells sweetly of fresh mouse's urine.

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

Small succulent plant from South Africa forming dense mats of green fingers. Flowers in autumn are bell shaped, pale yellow with brownish lines and dots. Water sparingly in winter. Indoors only.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Rich blue columns developing rows of very shaggy red-brown wool down the ridges. To about 3m ht and branches above ground. Needs very bright light. Indoors only and seems prone to intermittent coldsores and poxes.

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

Woolly blue-bloomed basally branching Brazilian cereoid to 4m. Requires brightest light possible. Possibly the best blue Brazilian for outdoors in a warm free-draining position. Avoid touching the bloom, it marks.

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

Best blue cactus around! To about 2 meters high and branches in an attractive candelabra shape. Flowers small, white, nocturnal. Needs very bright light. Outdoors OK only if warm, sheltered and well drained.

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

Brilliant blue Brazilian columnar cactus to 5m+. Needs bright light. Variable species (includes P.azureus & superfloccosus). Avoid fingermarks! Outdoors if well-drained & warm, out of driving rain.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Mexican columnar cactus to 5m+., hairy with age. Brilliant blue so avoid fingermarks! Needs bright light. Outdoors if well-drained & warm, out of rain.

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

Blue Brazilian columnar cactus which grows to 6m in the right conditions. Small white flowers, from naked green buds. Blue stem is easily marked by curious fingers or other contact. Best indoors but must have very bright light.

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

Split Rock. South African plant with chubby very succulent leaves in pairs. Indoors only in bright light, suits sunny windowsill. Yellow daisy-like flowers. Best treated like Lithops i.e. dry in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Grey-green spiralling columns of leaves to 250mm height and offsetting. Close relative of Aloe, Astroloba and Haworthia but has bright red flowers, unusually narrow. Easy in a well-drained mix.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Yellow toned variant of P. afra. Evergreen shrub, slowly to 0.5 m ht. Tough and it takes clipping, Slower growing than the greener version, but posssibly more tolerant of potbound treatment.

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

Highly succulent rarity.

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

'Greenflowered Miniature'. Possibly the smallest of all the Puyas, which are bromeliads from South America. This species to 20cm diameter with green and pink flowers. Bright light. OK outdoors in rockery etc.

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

Peruvian miniature cereoid eventually towering to 10cms height! Offsetting freely and bearing lovely white nocturnal flowers which are sweetly scented, making it a great one for the coffee table at flowering time. Medium to bright light.

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