Definitely an unusual species, with few but thickly succulent leaves in a compact rosette. A neat 'windowed' species with a background color of dark green, tinted reddish, turning darker red in bright light and the leaf surface is patterned with gold tessellations. Flaring white and greenish-brown striped flowers appear on a tall arching scape that can reach over three feet! In nature, this species often grows under shrubs, sending it's inflorescence up through the foliage into the view of pollinators.

A very unusual species from Michoacan, Mexico.  A large grower to 30 inches across or larger, with wide, thickly succulent leaves a glaucous green.  No other species of Hechtia resembles glauca.  The marginal spines are broadly spaced and not sharp or stiff.  A rare gem.

*SHIPPED BARE ROOT

A clone of this variable species that we collected near Palmeiras, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. It is a bottle shaped plant with stiff, gray-green, narrow leaves. The inflorescence is a pink spike with clusters of short, cottony branches. It grows in the caatinga habitat of rolling, rocky grasslands and thorn scrub with stony outcrops and is especially tough and sun tolerant. Growing hard, that is in bright light, reduced water and feeding and under-potting will force the plant to take on its best form and color.

NO HOLDING - MUST SHIP IMMEDIATELY!

As one of only a few epiphytic caudiciform plants, this member of the family Rubiaceae, which includes coffee and gardenias, is an extreme oddity of nature. Leathery leaves and narrow branches bearing fleshy fruits grow from an ample caudex, which is set with tiny openings, doorways to a labyrinth of interior chambers.

In nature this fascinating plant maintains a symbiotic relationship with certain ant species that provide protection from predators in exchange for housing. But don’t worry, in cultivation, no native ant species are attracted to it! Found in tropical northern Australia and Papua New Guinea where they grow naturally in nutrient poor areas, often on scrub vegetation. Culture is easy: keep just moist, not wet, and grow in medium to bright light, out of full sun, in a well-draining media. Hanging baskets are ideal.

A bizarre, epiphytic, caudiciform plant native to New Guinea and northern Australia. It belongs to the family Rubiaceae that includes coffee. It has a globular caudex with some bumps but mainly smooth, glossy, skin and many tiny openings that lead to a labyrinth of interior chambers.

The leaves are curled, thick and leathery with a smooth surface, borne on a full crown of small limbs that also bear fleshy fruit. In nature it maintains a symbiotic relationship with ants that make a home in its interior chambers, in exchange for providing food and protection to the plant.

In cultivation, no native ant species are attracted to it. Can be grown potted in loose, well-drained media, or mounted in the fashion of a Platycerium fern, using a thin layer of sphagnum moss. Needs frequent watering, but will not tolerate being constantly wet.

A bizarre, epiphytic, caudiciform plant native to New Guinea and northern Australia. It belongs to the family Rubiaceae that includes coffee. It has a globular caudex with some bumps but mainly smooth, glossy, skin and many tiny openings that lead to a labyrinth of interior chambers.

The leaves are curled, thick and leathery with a smooth surface, borne on a full crown of small limbs that also bear fleshy fruit. In nature it maintains a symbiotic relationship with ants that make a home in its interior chambers, in exchange for providing food and protection to the plant.

In cultivation, no native ant species are attracted to it. Can be grown potted in loose, well-drained media, or mounted in the fashion of a Platycerium fern, using a thin layer of sphagnum moss. Needs frequent watering, but will not tolerate being constantly wet.

*VIPP offering - plants are ready to be re-potted into a larger basket

Jewels of the Jungle: Bromeliacea of Ecuador Part I - Bromelioideae ©2000 Jose Manzanares. A treatment of one of the richest bromeliad floras on earth. Ecuador contains an incredible 455 species of bromeliads in one of the smallest countries in South America. The first of four planned volumes. 9 x 12 Hardbound, with hundreds of magnificent photos.

The long-awaited first book from Tropiflora's founder Dennis Cathcart! Adventure waits around every corner.

*Postage (USPS Printed Matter) included in book price. Domestic orders only.