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Golden Aloe. Madagascar. Stemless rosette to 1m diam., pale leaves with golden teeth. Several winter inflorescences to 2m ht with golden flowers on bottlebrush racemes up to 1m long. Wonderful!

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

Spiny leafed tree Aloe slowly to 4m. Unbranching and massive rosette has large inflorescences of yellow flowers in outward pointing (45 degrees) racemes in mid-winter. Good in the garden.

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

Medium sized (30cm) species from very arid areas of southern Africa. Long white spines go black with the travails of time. Flowers pinkish on inflorescences to 1m high. Probably not OK outdoors in NZ.

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

Rosette to 20cm diameter eventually on slow growing stems to 60cm. Flowers are in capitate racemes in this form, and the leaves become glaucous in bright light. OK outdoors.

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

Miniature, a super form of millotii or its hybrid perhaps, the narrow leaves brightly marked with long white stripes and white edge teeth, frequently conjoined. Easy and fast to multiple into a compact dense mound of interwoven leaves.

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

Elegant narrow tree aloe to 5m tall with straight stiff trunk and erect leaves with a pinkish margin and teeth. Broad short red racemes. From altitude in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, so should be OK outdoors in mild areas.

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

Rare "Grass Aloe" from Natal to Kenya. Forms only 8-12 thin grass-like leaves to 30cm high. Flowers dull but shapely, in spring. Dies back in winter, re-grows in spring. Bright light indoors, untried outdoors.

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

Broad thick grey leaves form a stemless rosette to 1m. across. Stunning winter inflorescences of horizontally disposed scarlet extravagance. Prefers sheltered garden position or large patio pot.

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

Hybrid from Aloe variegata, the Partridge Breast Aloe.

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

Endangered dwarf aloe from rock cracks in the Itremo Mts Madagascar. Unusually bristly leaves colour up violet-blue in full light. Also pinkly floriferous. OK in pot or rockery in mild areas.

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

South African stemless Aloe to 60cm diameter, smooth grey leaves and few thorns. Dense racemes of flowers are beautifully two-toned, being red in bud and open to greenish white. OK outdoors.

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

Fine rosette to 30 cm, with pretty white-spotted leaves and red/green flowers on a simple inflorescence. From Cape Province (S. Africa) and described as recently as1976.

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

The Fan Aloe. Grows slowly into a multi-fanned bush to 2m x 2m. Perfect shape and easy in either pot or garden. Stands frost (snow in S. Africa.) Bright red flowers in winter attract tui, bellbird, waxeye.

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

A tall, thin, often branched tree Aloe to 4m topped with an elegantly swirling rosette with orange-red midwinter flowers. Good garden subject, but also suits a patio pot, being not wide.

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

Attractively spiny Aloe from Cape Province, to about 30cm diameter (sometimes offsetting). Flowers orange-red, opening while the inflorescence continues to grow. OK outdoors in a sunny well drained area.

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

Fine-leafed rosette to 60cm diameter on a very short trunk. Known for its remarkably tall inflorescence (to 3m!!!) of bright red flowers in late autumn. From S.Africa & Zimbabwe. Frost tender.

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

Name coined for these plants seemingly intermediate between ramo' and dicho'. First branches occur at 60-200 cms ht, are erect and frequently don't rebranch for some distance. Bright indoor or outdoors in mild areas, and needing excellent drainage.

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

Wonderful branching medium size tree Aloe from South Africa and Namibia. To 2m+, suits a classy presentation in a quality pot. Bright indoor area or outdoors in warm, sheltered position with excellent drainage.

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

Choice usually solitary blue-grey rosette to 80cm diameter, without trunk. Long dense racemes of flowers are a showy pinky-red opening to yellow. OK outdoors, & in garden.

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

Handsome straight unbranched tree aloe to 8m tall. Profuse flowers in late winter, many racemes. Protruding stamens have an almost fluorescent bright orange-red effect. Moderately frost-hardy.

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

Solid tree aloe to 4m with bright red flowers in profusion in June/July/August. Heavy rosettes atop thick branching trunks. Remove basal offsets for best appearance. Tough & reliable.

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

Uncommon species from Sudan. Spotted rosettes (theoretically to 1 m wide, but usually much smaller), offsetting. Orange flowers several times per year from a branched inflorescence. Racemes unusual, flattened and disc-like. Untried outdoors, probably OK.

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

Very heavy spiny rosette atop a stout unbranched trunk to 4 metres. Spectacular candelabras of flowers in midwinter, usually yellow. Close relative of A.marlothii. OK outdoors and frosthardy.

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

Softly spiny light green rosettes to 40cm, offsetting prolifically. Very bright red flowers in late winter ard dense and showy. Thought to be a humilis hybrid. Fast, easy, and tolerant.

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

Many white-spotted white-toothed leaves form a big red-flowered rosette on a stout trunk, eventually branched and outliving its 1st owner by 100 years or more. Easy and handsome in gardens or pots. Won't worry with winter wet.

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

Zimbabwean species which can have a stemless rosette to 1.5 metres diameter, later offsetting. Racemes held very tall in early winter.

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

A Coro Cacti hybrid with interesting multi-cuspid teeth on the translucent edges of remarkably rough-textured leaves. Leaves vary in roughness, redness, and glaucousness. Every one is different, it is best to own a full set.

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

Tree Aloe of the Natal sand dunes. Striking 1.5m diameter rosette on trunk eventually to 4 metres. Leaves concave above, downcurving. Winter flowers are yellow on truncated racemes.

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

Perhaps the most handsome Aloe, with its outspread recurved green leaves atop a stout trunk clad with persistent dead leaves (if not removed). Orangish flowers. Slowgrowing. Needs best warm and well-drained position, or pot.

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

Partridge Breast Aloe. Three ranks of thick triangular leaves distinguish this classic plant. Pink flowers in spring. OK outdoors if roots are very well-aerated. Offsets readily to form a tight group.

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

Medium sized South African 'Grass' Aloe. Forms clumps of grass-like leaves to 30cm high, which die back over winter. Large orange-red flowers on stems 30cm long spring to summer. OK outdoors.

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

Rarely offered species from Madagascar. Forms attractive light green rosettes to 50cm or more in diameter which will offset around the base to form a group. Flowers bright red throughout spring/summer.

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

This is one of the 'grass-Aloes' of Zimbabwe. Along with several other species it occurs in the Chimanimani Mountains where it forms small clumps to about 20 cm high. Flowers red in spring. Great rock-garden subject.

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

OK outdoors in mild areas only. Small shrubby Aloe to 1 m height, basally branching.

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

Very large solitary bulb (to 30cms!!) with long-lasting cerise flowers, up to several times per year (apparently). Flat leaves go bluntly half-sized and dormant for spring. Water from December. Takes mild frost if well-drained.

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

Bulb producing a single tree-like leaf in summer with a beautifully marbled stem. Flower is huge, 60cm high, and purple. Ignore over winter when the whole plant dies down to the tuber. Grows fine in the garden in mild areas.

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

DP 7998 is a Darryl Plowes collection number, about which we know little, it not being in Ralph Martin's excellent website of locality data, that is http://ralph.cs.cf.ac.uk/Cacti/fieldno.html.

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

Easy to grow and flower, this stapeliad is from Morocco. Flowers appear near the stem tips in clusters during summer/autumn and are dark red with a spotted white centre. Indoors only in bright light.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Miniature columnar cactus from Brazil. Grows 20-30cm high, offseting from the base. Flowers pinkish red with a yellow tip produced from a pseudocephalium (bristly zone at stem tip). Indoors only in bright position.

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

Amazingly rigid pencil-thin cactus from Brazil to 1m+ high, offseting from the base. Flowers bright pink produced from a pseudocephalium (bristly zone at stem tip). Indoors in bright position or, experimentally, outdoors(?)

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

A small cereoid bearing fabulous coloured flowers, even more remarkable for being nocturnal. Wants bright light and good drainage. Try it outdoors in well-drained rockery perhaps?

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

Comments later, too busy right now!

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

From wild-collected seed as Astroloba bullulata, but proving to be a wild hybrid. An easy to grow columnar type with long quite long-persisting leaves.

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

Sharp leaved slow growing columnar miniature. Forms many upright spiralling leaf-clad stems from an offsetting base. Flowers tiny & insignificant. Easy indoors & possibly OK in rockery.

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

A slow growing and difficult Mexican, to 10cm diameter. Big yellow flowers. Indoors only in medium light, not full sun, not full shade. Water sparingly and keep dry when cold. Take lots of photos while it is still alive.

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

Aristocratic slow growing Mexican cactus which develops tangled, flexible straw-like spines. Eventually forms short columns to 30cm. Flowers yellow with a red centre. Indoors only in brightest light.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Slow growing but one of the most attractive cacti from Mexico. Scented yellow flowers spring to autumn. Indoors only in bright light; water infrequently (once every 2-3 weeks, less in winter) to prevent root rot.

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

Square four-sided variant of this slow growing but attractive Mexican cactus.Scented yellow flowers spring to autumn. Indoors only in bright light; water infrequently (every 2-3 weeks, less in winter) to prevent root rot.

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

Armed but ornate with its fine white-dotted stem and strong yellow spines. From Mexico, it grows slowly to around 2 m high (may take a few hundred years!). Large scented yellow flowers in summer. Indoors only, in bright light.

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

Cultivars of Astrophytum asterias with improved flocking: more of it and arranged in interesting symmetrical patterns.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Slow but large-growing relative of Pony Tail Palm with thin, slightly glaucous leaves which hold themselves much more erect than recurvata & guatemalense, but not as broad nor stiff as stricta. Trunk, as for all the fore-mentioned species, becomes massive in time, and branched above - at that stage a prestigious plant of great beauty and presence.

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

Ruby Ponytail. Graceful swirling red-tinged leaves atop a small branched tree which develops a fantastic swollen base and lower trunk. OK outdoors and in the ground in mild areas.

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

Slow but large-growing relative of Pony Tail Palm with straight, rough, slightly glaucous leaves which hold themselves much more erect than recurvata & guatemalense, stiffer and broader than stricta. Trunk, like all the fore-mentioned, becomes massive in time, and branched above - at that stage a prestigious plant of great beauty and presence.

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

Unusual succulent Begonia from Brazil. Thick upright stems to 50cm high. Flowers pink and white. Grow in bright light and keep fairly dry in winter. OK outdoors in mild areas.

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

Bolivian cactus branching from the base to 1.5m high. Floriferous with lovely blood red zygomorphic flowers often opening en masse. Keep it fed or repotted for best health. Half to full sun, outdoors OK.

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

(actually named Pseudobombax ellipticum these days) Succulent tree from Mexico forming a beautiful flask shaped stem. Shaving brush flowers. The leaves are shed during winter when it should be kept dry. That said, however, has lived outdoors, fully exposed, in our Auckland trial garden both potted and in ground, for several winters without harm. Certainly OK outside in summer.

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

Rare and recently re-discovered oddity from NW South Africa. Soft, blue-green leafless vine and delicate white flowers. Keep dry when the vine dies back in summer. Floriferous and choice. Recommended.

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

Green clusters of bulbs, sitting on the ground, from which arise summer-growing green twining tendrilosities, totally without leaves. Floriferous, with small cream smelling flowers. Dormant (leafless) in winter, keep dry.

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

Dense clump-forming plant to around 1 metre across. Produces long inflorescences of small yellow and orange flowers almost all year round. Very easy plant for outdoors in full sun or part shade. Good on a bank.

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

Soft leaved green rosette to 30cm diameter, on a short trunk sometimes with basal offsets. Tall elegant Aloe-like inflorescence opens with bright yellow flowers over a long period. Possibly OK outdoors in warm, well-drained spot.

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

Bizarre boulder-shaped caudex with tufts of grey 'grass' all over. In rare localities in Mexico the caudex can grow to the size of a Volkswagen. Easy to grow, in pot or garden.

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

Old Man Cactus from high altitude in the Andes. Slow growing.

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

This scalloped-edged sculptural sonata soon becomes a vertical symphony in blue. Fast-growing, with large white flowers, If indoors needs bright light to keep wide diameter at top. Easy to grow outdoors, to 5m+,

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

Aberrant fasciated form of a large cereoid cactus. Sculptural. Very blue especially if protected from weathering. Pot or garden, indoor or outdoor, in bright light.

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

Vigorous columnar cactus to 5+ m. Almost spineless stems are up to 20cm diameter yet lightweight on account of the deep winged ribs. Large nocturnal white flowers. Outdoors OK.

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

(syn.peruvianus) Aberrant sculptural form of a large cereoid cactus. Blue-green if protected from weathering. Variable spine colour. The small tight form can grow looser later, but not always. Pot or garden, indoor or outdoor, bright light.

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

Pronounced "Seriously sizeable" because this unidentified species is capable of growing 1 metre/year of its broad deeply ribbed stems. Easy to grow in garden, especially with good soil.

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

Named for Blondie fans, this very tall, small-flowered cereoid freely throws notably upright branches with an attractive parallellity. Fast growing and very tolerant in the garden, in (at least) mild areas.

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

One of the 'stick' Ceropegias from the Canary Islands. Leaves small, dropping off after a short time. Flowers yellow, in tight bunches from sides of the sticks. OK for well drained garden.

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

One of the 'stick' Ceropegias from the Canary Islands. Leaves small, dropping off after a short time. Flowers deep red, in tight bunches from sides of the sticks. OK for well drained garden.

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

Succulent vine from South Africa with large green and white flowers shaped like a parachute. Easy to grow in bright light. Train vine around a frame or grow as a hanging plant. Indoors only, keep dry in winter.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Rare crested form. Produces unusual, gnarly, flattened growth as well as its usual vining form. Flowers unusual whitish and brownish purple. Easy to grow, best in a sunny spot indoors.

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

Very handsome blue cereoid from hottest volcanic Brazil. To 3 metres tall, sparingly basally branching. Wants max warmth and bright light, and probably unsuited for NZ's outdoors.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

For lovers of Lump Plants, a Mexican vine from the Grape Family, forming a thickened base and sausagey segments too, but best to remove vine regularly to enjoy the wonderful basal caudex. Easy, & tough, outdoors in mild areas.

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

So-called 'Silver Torch'. A long time favourite, this species produces tall narrow densely spined white columns with many tubular red flowers over the summer months. Grows well outdoors if given good drainage and full sun.

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

A Coro Cacti exclusive! Created in 1997, this inter-generic hybrid (Cleistocactus x Matucana) has attractively faceted spiny stems and bright pink flowers during spring/summer. OK outdoors in well drained sunny area.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

C. bilobum in its various forms is easy to grow and can even be encouraged to grow through the summer months, especially if older leaves are removed. Yellow flowers. Best in bright light. For pot only.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

One of the easier Conophytums to grow, but like most, it will split and crack if overwatered (unsightly but usually not fatal). Scented nocturnal flowers. Keep dry spring to mid-summer. Best in light shade.

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

Previously known as C. wittebergense, this tiny plant is one of the most beautifully patterned. Small white flowers are nocturnal and highly scented. Indoors only in bright light. Keep dry summer to mid-autumn.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

One of the more attractively patterned forms of C. pellucidum. Markings particularly bold at start of growing period. White tubular flowers in late summer/autumn. Indoors only in bright light.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Cool roots if possible. Withhold water from summer to mid-autumn, then sparingly the rest of the year.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

Conophytums are from sandy crevices in extremely hot regions, full sun to shade. Withhold water from spring to mid-summer, water sparingly the rest of the year. Flowers in late summer/autumn.

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

(sy. C.barguitensis hypogaea) This is the wild species from which 'Lizard Skin' is a selection, and in fact, closely resembles. Copiapoa are slow-growing & from a v. harsh climate where they receive almost no rainfall. Brightest light needed for good spination, shape, and any chalky texture which can be very attractive.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Selected form of C.hypogaea. Copiapoa are slow-growing & from a v. harsh climate where they receive almost no rainfall. Brightest light needed for good spination, shape, and any chalky texture which can be very attractive.

5.Indoors OK, Outdoors not OK.

Small vigorous caudiciform cucurbit from southern Africa. Forms a branched and more or less bottle shaped caudex to 8cm in thickness. Easy to grow; trim back vines as needed. Don't water when dormant, i.e. leafless.

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

Small vigorously-vining caudiciform cucurbit from Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Forms a branched and more or less bottle shaped caudex to 12cm in thickness. Easy to grow; trim back vines as needed. Barely water when dormant, i.e. when leafless in winter.

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

This variety has linear to antler-shaped leaves. White-pruinose shrub to 25 cm ht, ideal for dry banks. The harder you grow it the better it looks. Nodding silky flowers. Suits coastal situation. Stands frost.

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

White-pruinose shrub to 25 cm ht, with fingery leaves with a red border. Nodding silky flowers. Needs bright light! May be less hardy than the species, untested as yet.

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