Both parents of this Ray Lemieux cross of Hechtia lanata x myriantha have some interesting characteristics that should express themselves when the plants grow out. The seed parent, H. lanata, has broad, scurfy, twisting and curling leaves in habitat, which is a tropical desert environment on nutrient poor cliffs.

In cultivation, seedlings of this species tend to have straighter foliage, at least here in sea-level Florida. The pollen parent, H. myriantha, is a giant grower, perhaps the largest of all Hechtia species. Anecdotal stories report that this plant can reach the size of a VW Beetle! The intent of this cross was to produce a large growing hybrid with twisted foliage and silvery scurf. Only time will tell if that will happen. 

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A species from Tamaulipas state of Mexico. An easy to grow species that forms large, silvery-scurfy rosettes. Oddly, the offsets come off with soft, glabrous leaves, developing the scurfy appearance that protects them from the sun, as they mature. The narrow, spiny leaves are rather soft (for a Hechtia) and the tips naturally die back and curl.

A rare hybrid of Hechtia argentea x tillandsioides named after Dorothy Byer. It Is not clear if this is a natural hybrid or a man-made hybrid, but was named by Dorothy along with Dutch Vandervort.

Hechtia hybrids are very rarely made as it takes a male and female plant, blooming at the same time, not just two different plants. A large grower with very many narrow, tapering leaves in a full, leafy rosette. The leaves arch gracefully, somewhat recurving. The marginal spines are very reduced, but are sharp and the plant should be handled with caution as the leaf edges can cut your skin quite easily. 

A widespread species that is found in many habitats from south Texas to Guatemala. This one has narrow green leaves with small sharp spines. The foliage is covered with white trichomes on the underside of the leaves. There is a noticeable leaf imprint on the underside of the leaf.   We have not seen it bloom yet. This clone comes from Queretaro, Mexico, and was collected by Andy Siekkenen and carries his accession number: AS047.

A Tropiflora hybrid with our best red rosea (formerly meziana). These are running the gamut from silver to red, some with scurfing, some without, all nice.

 A large growing terrestrial to 24 inches across, that has abundant silver 'fuzzy' trichomes on both sides of the leaves. When stressed is blushes purple. This usually happens in winter.

A very fine smaller species with thickly succulent, very silvery to almost fuzzy leaves. Native to Southwestern Mexico, this clone is one from the collection of Ruby Ryde in Australia. A very nice, compact clone with very thick, silvery-white leaves. This species is easy to grow, will mature in a 6 inch pot but would do best in a larger container as the plant will form a cluster with time. The inflorescence is pink to purplish and plants are either male or female.

A cultivar of the hybrid marnier-lapostollei x glomerata by Sally Marz. Hechtia hybrids are fairly unusual. This plant, according to the late Dutch Vandeervort is a "A robust version of marnier-lapostollei" - leaves to about 12 inches and was a favorite of his with many gracing his Ventura, California garden. Many narrow, somewhat soft, spiny green leaves dusted with silver. A handsome plant and easy to grow.

This Tropiflora hybrid definitely came out looking more like the H. coerulea parent, with semi-stiff, green, grassy leaves. The leaf margins, although 'spineless', are very sharp and can give a swift ’paper cut’ to the unwary. For something unusual, give one a try!