[Sacred Succulents] Equinox updates

[benkamm at monitor.net]

(do not “reply” to this email, send all correspondence to - 
sacredsucculents at hushmail.com )

3/21/18

Equinox greetings,

So far this year has seen the most erratic winter weather yet–several dry 
and exceptionally warm weeks followed by a cold snap with strong frosts 
that did an unusual amount of damage to some of our plants. “Malignant 
normalcy” is the phrase that has come to describe the past year. Since 
early February we are (once again!) dealing with a unexpected and totally 
bizarre family crisis. I’ve been able to mostly keep up with orders– I’m a 
few days behind with large seed orders. I’m doing my best, but I may be a 
little slow on email response at the moment. If I have not responded to an 
email in the recent past it is not intentional and I apologize, please 
resend. Bear with me as I wade as gracefully as I can through this current 
bout of unwanted drama. Deep gratitude for your patience and support.

A few new limited plant and seed offerings are listed below. Today was to 
be the last day of our winter plant sale but we have decided to extend it 
to the end of March. All orders will need to be postmarked by March 31 to 
receive the discount prices. See the homepage or further into this email 
for the sale list.
We posted a spectrum of new specimen plant offerings on the lower half of 
our homepage ( http://sacredsucculents.com ), more photos to come soon. 
These are also listed further on in this email for your perusal. These are 
one of a kind offerings and go fast.

With the steady stream of mishaps in our life we are now months behind on 
completing and mailing the next Rare Plant List. We continue to beg your 
patience and will do everything we can to get it mailed in April. It will 
be an extra large issue.

Ethnobotanical poet Dale Pendell departed for the eternal wild wood 
recently. We did not know Dale well but always appreciated his unique wit 
and perceptions. His book Pharmako/Poeia had a distinct influence on our 
developing relations with plants when it was published 23 years ago. He 
touched many with his words and will be missed.

All botanical offerings are Public Domain

Sacred Succulents New Limited Offerings March 2018
You can print out an order form- http://sacredsucculents.com/order-form/ 

Abromeitiella lotteae
Bromeliaceae. Little 1–2? rosettes of small triangular leaves, green with 
silver-gray flecking. Will eventually form large dense mounds to several 
feet across. Small tubular wine-red flowers with green tips. This rare red 
flowered species from southern Bolivia is exceedingly scarce in 
cultivation. The recent popular trend in genetic studies is to lump 
Abromeitiella into the genus Deuterocohnia, but there is plenty of valid 
reason to keep this unique genus intact. Z9b? 
1.5–2”+ plant 3+ years old $18.50

Brugmansia sanguinea TB17  “Tree Datura” “Huanto” “Borrachero” “Huanduj”
Solanaceae. Arborescent shrub to 15'+ tall with large downy leaves. 6" 
trumpet-like flowers that fade from yellow to blood red. Egg shaped fruit. 
Wild seed collected by T. Baldwin, Ecuador. All parts of the plant are 
widely used in ethnomedicine. Potentially toxic and a visionary delirient 
used shamanically. A key ingredient in the Cimora elixirs of Peru. 
Cultivated in Ecuador for its scopolomine content. Easy, may bloom in the 
first year. Z9a/b 
12–16"+ seedling $16.50 or 2 for $30

Bursera laxiflora “Copal”
Burseraceae. Deciduous tree with swollen trunk, smooth grayish bark, 
lightly pubescent pinnate leaves. Contains highly aromatic volatile oils. 
A rare Copal species from the dry forests of Mexico that produces one of 
the finest resins. Used as an antiseptic medicine and incense like other 
species. Z10a
Treelet 1–2 years old $19.50

Canna sp. SHL020916-01 “Achira Silvestre”
Cannaceae. Large dark green leaves, flowers not yet seen. Seed collected 
by S. Lipe in highland jungle/cloud forest on the Pilcopata to Paucartambo 
road, Manu, Peru near 6500'. This wild achira should have edible rhizomes 
and ornamental merit. Z9b
Plant 1 year old $10.50

Chenopodium oahuense BK10930.3 “Aheahea” 
Chenopodiaceae. The woodiest Chenopodium in the world, to over 15' tall! 
Fleshy leaves and clusters of tiny yellowish flowers. Endemic to the dry 
habitats of the Hawaiian Islands, from the coast to subalpine. The plant 
was used to treat thrush and the leaves can be cooked and eaten like 
spinach. Seed collected near 9,000’. Drought hardy. Z9a/b     
10–12"+ plant 1 year old $14.50
 
Khadia acutipetala “Khadi”
Aizoaceae. Compact branches from a thickened rootstock. Slender gray green 
leaves and large purple flowers. Native to north eastern parts of South 
Africa, above 4,000 feet. The roots were used by the Sotho for brewing 
beer and may have psychoactive properties like other mesembs. Easy to gow, 
regular succulent care. Tolerant of some frost. Rooted cuttings form 
several clones. Z8/9? 
2"+ plant $14.50

Lavatera thuringiana “Kazakh Mallow”
Malvaceae. Herbaceous perennial to 24" tall. Racemes of 2"+ pale pink 
flowers. Holubec collection from subalpine grasslands, Trans Illy Ala Tau, 
Kazakhstan, near 5,600', The leaves and flowers appear to be demulcent and 
edible like other species. Easy to grow. Cold stratify seed. Z6?           
 
Seed packet $4

Oxalis gigantea “Churco”
Oxalidaceae. Succulent shrub with clusters of upright cylindrical stems 
2–5'+ high. The stems are densely clothed in drought deciduous 
shamrock-like leaves. Yellow flowers are borne in mass along the stems. 
Tuberous roots need gritty soil. Coastal deserts of northern Chile. In 
most active growth winter and spring. One of the largest and coolest 
looking Oxalis species. Highly drought tolerant. Z9b/10a
5 seed $4
 
Passiflora umbilicata BK10511.13  “Locoste”
Passifloraceae. Large tendrilled vine with dark-green, tri-lobed leaves. 
Astonishing blue-purple and lavender flowers to nearly 6" across, probably 
the most beautiful passion flower we’ve seen! 2–3"+ round to cylindrical 
fruit with edible seeds and pulp. Leaves used medicinally for 
gastrointestinal disorders. Growing on shrubs on remnant cloud forest just 
before Kewina Casa, about 11,500', Cochabamba, Bolivia. Has grown well for 
us and seems perfectly hardy. Slow, erratic germination in 1–6 months. 
Z8a? 
Plant 2 years old $22.50

Polymnia? sp. BK14513.24  “Giant Yacon”
Asteraceae. Shrub/small tree 12–20'+ tall. Large sagittate leaves 
1.5–2.5'+ long with slightly serrated margins, covered in a light fuzz. 
Inflorescence with dozens of miniature yellow “sunflowers” to 1/2"+. 
Exposed margins of cloud forest near Sunchupata, 9700'. From a distance 
the plant look like Nicotiana tomentosa, up close it resembles a 
gargantuan Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) of which it is a close 
relative. The fastest growing plant we have tended, it grew over 12' this 
summer alone! We have yet to dig up the roots of this behemoth to see if 
they form tubers like Yacon, regardless it could be useful for future 
breeding. An awesome addition to any garden. First introduction. Rooted 
cuts. Z9b?
12-16"+ plant $29.50*

Senna sp. BK151018.12
Fabaceae. Handsome, upright to rounded shrub 3–5'. Green to blue-green 
pinnate leaves, clusters of bright yellow flowers. 2–3" seed pods. Growing 
amongst dense stands of Polylepis australis trees, Los Gigantes, Cordoba, 
Argentina, 7000'. A key soil fertility increasing species of the nearly 
extinct high Andean forest. This hardy nitrogen fixing shrub will make a 
useful and lovely addition to any garden or landscape. Germinates in 2–4 
weeks. Z7? 
10 seed $4

Trichocereus peruvianus v. puquiensis KK1689
Cactaceae. Erect branching stems to 12' or more. 8–12 ribs and blue-green 
skin. Well armed with long spines. White nocturnal flowers, edible fruit. 
Endemic to the Puquio valley, Ayacucho Dept., Peru, Knize collection 
9200'. Very similar to T. peruvianus v. cuzcoensis, mostly given varietal 
status due to it occurring on the western Andean slopes in contrast to 
cuzcoensis growing in the inter-Andean valleys and eastern slopes. Z9a  
3–5"+ plant 2+ years old $15.50

Trichocereus sp. ‘Juul’s Giant’ X Trichocereus huanucoensis 
Great hybrid which should have fat, robust children.    Seed packet $5

Trichocereus sp. Torres & Torres      Back in Stock!
Dark green upright stems to 12'+ in height and 6"+ in diameter. Small, 
stout, amber colored spines. Similar to T. pachanoi. From material 
collected by archaeologist Manuel Torres & his wife Donna in the northern 
part of central Chile. Z9a  
5–6"+ cutting $16.50
 
Sacred Succulents Plant Sale Winter 2017/18
While supplies last the following plants are on sale until March 31, 2018. 
All orders will need to be postmarked by that date.
CACTACEAE
Ariocarpus trigonus Dark green claw-like tubercles  yellow flowers. 
2–2.5"+ plant 6–7 years old $18.50 Sale Price $15.50
Copiapoa tenuissima Brown-purple globular cactus with wooly center. 
2”+ plant 4 years old $8.50  Sale Price $6
Trichocereus bridgesii f. monstrosus cl. B Multi-branched stems like half 
spined “eggs”. 
5–6"+ cutting $18.50 Sale Price $15.50
Trichocereus bridgesii KK919 X Trichocereus pachanoi f. monstrosus
4–7” plant 3 years old $14.50 Sale Price $11.50 or 3 for $29
Trichocereus pasacana BK151014.1  Robust spiny giant, Volcan, Jujuy, 
Argentina. 
1–2"+ diameter plant 2+ years old $12.50 Sale Price $10.50
Trichocereus peruvianus ‘Florida’ Peruvian seedlings. 
3–6”+ plant 2–3 years old $12.50 Sale Price $9.50 or 3 for $25
Trichocereus sp. BK09509.2 “San Pedro” Chavin de Huantar, Peru. 
3–6"+ plant 2+ years old $16.50 Sale Price $14.50 or 3 for $36
Succulents
Agave parryi “Mescal” “Maguey” Awesome rosettes of gray-green, one of the 
hardiest. 
2–3"+ plant 3 years old $7.50 Sale Price $6.50 or 3 for $15
Agave montana “Mountain Agave” Sculptural beauty, cold hardy.
3–5"+ plant 3 years old $9.50 Sale Price $8 or 3 for $20
Bursera fagaroides “Copal Tree” 
8–12”+ plant 2+ years old $14 Sale Price $12 or 2 for $21
Calibanus hookeri Unusual Agave relative. Corky rounded caudex, grass-like 
leaves. 
Plant 3+ years old $7.50 Sale Price $6.50 or 3 for $16
Commiphora simplicifolia  “Madgascar Myrrh” Small thorny tree with 
thickened caudiciform trunk. 
5–8"+ treelet $17.50 Sale Price $15
Deuterocohnia longipetala Puya-like rosettes, Peru. 2–3”+ plant 2+ years 
old $7.50 Sale Price $6 or 3 for $15
Echeveria oreophila Blue-green rosettes, pink flowers, Peru. 2” plant 
$12.50 Sale Price $9.50
Massonia depressa Lovely and bizarre geophyte, South Africa. 
Plant/bulb 2-3 years old $9.50 Sale Price $7 or 3 for $17
Nolina durangensis Hardy Yucca-kin, caudex-like trunk, grassy leaves. 
Plant 3+ years old $7.50 Sale Price $5.50 or 4 for $17
Oxalis peduncularis Chubby succulent leaves, Cusco, Peru. 
Plant 2 years old $9.50 Sale Price $6.50 or 3 for $16
Peperomia aff. galioides BK09425.1  “Congona” Small succulent medicinal 
rich in aromatic oils, Peru. 
Plant 3 years old $11.50 Sale Price $8.50
Puya aff. humilis BK10509.18 Gorgeous mounding species, short reddish 
inflorescence, Bolivia. 
4”+ Plant 4 years old $12.50 Sale Price $10 or 3 for $26
Other Medicinals, Edibles, etc.
Abies pindrow CC6800 Himalayan pine. 
Treelet 4 years old $8.50 Sale Price $6 or 4 for $20
Agapetes serpens Caudiciform Himalayan huckleberry. Red tubular flowers, 
sweet purple berries. 
6” plant $9.50 Sale Price $7.75
Arracacia brandegeei BK101106.2 Herbaceous perennial to 4’. Pinnate 
leaves, green to purplish. 
Plant 4 years old $9.50 Sale Price $8 or 2 for $14
Bomarea aff. ovata BK14513.17 Twining vine, tubular pink/green flowers. 
Edible tubers.. A “lost” Incan crop. 
Plant 3 years old $18.50 Sale Price $15
Camellia sinensis v. assamica  “English Breakfast Tea” Tea shrub from 
Assam, India. 
6–14” plant 4 years old $14.50 Sale Price $11.50
Eryngium sp. BK10509.14 Apiaceae. Puya-like rosette, Bolivia. Plant 2 
years old $8.50 
Sale Price $6 or 3 for $15
Fuchsia boliviana SHL170115.01 Shrub, long clusters of red tubular 
flowers, edible fruit, Peru.
8–14"+ plant 2+ years old  $11.50 Sale Price $8.50
Macleania cordifolia Caudiciform neotropical blueberry, red tubular 
flowers. 
Plant $16.50 Sale Price $13.50
Nasella? sp. BK08520.1 “Ichu”  A beautiful perennial bunch grass to 2', 
Peru. 
Plant 2 years old $9.50 Sale Price $7
Sinopodophyllum emodi Endangered Asian Mayapple. 
Plant 3 years old $11.50 Sale Price $8.50

Specimen Plants March 2018
These are one of a kind offerings, first come first serve. Full ordering 
information and some photos (more to come soon!) can be viewed on the 
lower half of our homepage ( http://sacredsucculents.com )

CACTACEAE
Maihueniopsis sp. BK10511.6 
Low growing clusters of rounded 1" stems to 18" across. A few flattened 
spines per areole. Less spiny and more diminutive than Maihueniopsis 
boliviana we’ve observed around La Paz. No flowers present which may have 
helped an identification. Possibly Cumulopuntia. Growing on open slopes 
below Puya raimondii populations, Cordillera de Vacas, Cochabamba, 
Bolivia, 13,100'. Z7?
2"+ plant with 8+ stems 4+ years old $24.50

Trichocereus bridgesii ‘Cuatro Vientos’ 
They are many myths in the Andes about the “cactus of the 4 winds”, a 
special 4 ribbed plant. T. bridgesii is one of the few species that 
occasionally produces stems with just 4 ribs. We regularly get requests 
for such cuts and offer one here. Will eventually revert to 5 or more 
ribs. Z9a
12” cut $45* 

Trichocereus bridgesii ‘Lotusland’   “Melted Wax Cactus”
A great clone from Lotusland Garden in Santa Barbara, CA. Often grows 
monstrose stems with a melted wax look. 
3  ~  5–6" cuts $19.50 each

Trichocereus bridgesii f. monstrosus Clone B “Achuma”
Unique mutant. 2–5 ribs initially bearing 3" yellow spines then becoming 
smooth and spineless. The stems reach 4–6" in length then stop growing and 
begin to offset. Eventually forms dense stands to 6' tall made up of 
hundreds of small multi-branched stems.
17" cutting made up of 10 stems $42*

Trichocereus pachanoi f. cristata cl A “Mutant San Pedro”
Thick fans of cristate growth. Occasionally reverts to normal or monstrose 
columns that have the look of molten wax. 
7”+ wide by 10” tall rooted cutting $58*

Trichocereus pachanoi f. cristata/monstrosus BK08611.4 Clone A  “Mutant 
San Pedro”
We had a number of mutants show up amongst these Peruvian seedlings. This 
is the first clone we’ve propagated. Wavy to broad fans of cristate growth 
and small columns with normal to “melted” ribs. Rooted cut. Z9a    
7" crest turning into 6 monstrose heads plus one 9" “normal” side branch 
$64*

Trichocereus peruvianus X Trichocereus sp. ‘Juul’s Giant’ hybrid f. 
cristata
Beautiful thick fans of blue-green cristate growth with 1/2" spines.
7" rooted cutting $35

Trichocereus tacaquirensis?
4–6” thick dark-green stems to at least 10’ in height. 7–9 ribs with large 
felty areoles and numerous thick dark spines to 3”. White, night blooming 
flowers. An impressive cactus, very similar to T. taquimbalensis. Grows at 
10,000’, Tacaquira, Chuquisaca, Bolivia. Z9a
6” rooted cutting $16.50

‘Trichopsis pachaniesii?’
A truly gorgeous hybrid between T. pachanoi and an unkown Echinopsis, 
possibly E. eyriesii. Upright clustering stems to 6’+ tall and 6” diameter 
with 15+ ribs, small stout spines and slender white flowers with a touch 
of pink. Z9a
9” rooted cutting $22.50
Other Beneficial Plants
Agapetes hosseana “Saphaolom” “Thai Huckleberry”
Ericaceae. A lovely blueberry relative that forms large woody caudiciform 
lignotubers. Arching branches to 3'+ with shiny, rounded-elliptic, 
evergreen leaves. Clusters of pendant, narrow tubular red flowers with 
green tips. Sweet edible berries, white to pale pink with lavender 
speckles. An epiphytic species native to the mountain forests of northern 
Thailand. The lignotubers are used in Thai medicine for nourishment after 
a fever. The tubers have exhibited anticancer poperties. The plant 
contains triterpenes and steroidal compounds with antibacterial and 
antimalarial activity. Part shade and a fast draining acidic soil. Does 
well in hanging baskets. Z8b/9a 
2  ~  16–18"+ multistemmed plants with 1–2" caudex 5 years old $32.50 each

Agapetes pyrolifolia “Burmese Huckleberry”
Caudiciform, semi-epiphytic shrub with arching branches to about 2–3'. 
Evergreen obovate leaves. Orangish to creamy-pink tubular flowers with 
carmine red zig-zag markings and yellow to greenish tips. Edible berries. 
Rare species native to the evergreen forests of Myanmar, NW Yunnan and 
Xizang, China up to 9000'. Rooted cutting from clone B. Z8b/9a? 
16"+ multistemmed plant $36.50

Cavendishia axillaris HBG96079 “El Macho”
Ericaceae. Shrub to 2–4'. Deeply veined, dark green suborbicular leaves to 
3"+ densely arranged along the stems. The unique inflorescences occur at 
the leaf axils–clusters of rose-pink bracts and numerous small, bottle 
shaped, white-pink to yellow-white flowers. Rounded edible blue berries. A 
terrestrial to epiphytic denizen of the cloud forests of Costa Rica to 
northern Columbia up to 9000'. Rooted cuts. Z9b 
12"+ plant $32.50 

Ephedra americana BK10504.1 “Sano-sano”
Ephedraceae. Xerophytic leafless shrub 2–4' tall. Small red edible fruit a 
bit more papery than most. Somewhat resembles the Chilean Ephedra breana. 
Companion plant to Trichocereus bridgesii, Prosopis sp., Puya sp., 
Oreocereus pseudofossulatus, Corryocactus melanotrichus, etc. Abundant on 
the shale soil and steep slopes above Huachjilla, La Paz, Bolivia. In some 
parts of Bolivia it is made into a “coffee” and the herbage is often used 
for fire starting. Widely regarded urinary tonic and treatment for lung 
congestion. Drought hardy. Z8b? 
30"+ plant 7 years old $28.50*

Escallonia cordobensis BK151018.13
Saxifragaceae or Escalloniaceae. A lovely shrub/small tree to 15'+. Narrow 
leaves. Clusters of relatively large showy white flowers, sweetly scented. 
Los Gigantes, Sierras Grandes, Cordoba, Argentina, 6400'. Very rare 
Cordoba endemic threatened by cows. The only large plants we saw were 
restricted to nearly inaccessible cliffs. Once a key forest species with 
Polylepis australis and Maytenus boaria. Conservation propagation is 
vital. New to cultivation, first introduction!Rooted cut. Z7b?
20"+ multistemmed treelet $38

Heterothalamus alienus BK151018.2 “Romerillo”
Asteraceae. Very attractive rounded shrub 2–6’+. Small coriaceus slender 
leaves densely arranged along the stems. 1/4” yellow button flowers. The 
entire plant is pleasantly aromatic. Exposed rocky slopes, Los Gigantes, 
Sierras Grandes, Cordoba, Argentina, near 7000’. One of the few plants 
that the cows don’t eat in this senescent Polylepis australis habitat. 
Used in folk medicine as a stimulant, tonic, for fever and kidneys. Rich 
in essential oils, diterpene glycosides, peroxides, etc. Has antiviral, 
antifungal and insecticidal action. Shown effective in treating a variety 
of honeybee pests. Z7a/b? 
2  ~  12–14” plants 3 years old $23.50* each

Peperomia galapagensis   “Galapagos Congona”
Bright green succulent 3–6" tall. Creeping to upright multibranched stems. 
Whorls of 4+ small oval leaves at each internode. Green flower spikes. In 
bright light the plant will take on reddish hues. Rare endemic of Darwin’s 
wonderland, the Galapagos Islands. First fondled by the great man and 
pressed into herbarium sheets in 1835. Grows on rocks and trees, often in 
moist shaded areas above 300'. Appears to have evolved from P. 
inaequalifolia of the Andes and the flesh of the plant has a similar 
superb balsam-citrus scent/flavor. Medicinal like close kin. Rooted 
cutting. Z9b/10a 
5" tall by 3.5" wide multistemmed plant $28.50

Peperomia hartwegiana BK08521.6  “Jalcacongona”
Piperaceae. Jewel like succulent. Whorled orbicular leaves with a windowed 
upper surface. 2–6” tall, grows creeping along rocks and cliffs. A very 
attractive population with red leaves and purple/red flower spikes, 
Ollantaytambo, Cusco Dept., Peru, 9300’. Used for eye/ear infections, a 
tea for lung and kidneys issues. Curanderos of northern Peru consider the 
plant protective. Reportedly utilized during mesada ceremonies for 
‘floricimiento’– “to cleanse and flower the subtle energies of the 
body/spirit so a patients dormant potentials can blossom like the 
nocturnal flowers of the San Pedro cactus”. Z9b
5” clustering plant 5 years old $26.50

Streptosolen jamesonii NL042308a 
Solanaceae. 5'+ shrub with showy 1" tubular flowers that start yellow and 
transform to burnt orange  over many days. Collected by Neil Logan, 
Vilcabamba, Ecuador, 5500'. A bath of the plant is used for fright. Has 
great horticultural potential. Grow like Brugmansia. Z9b
2  ~  10–16" plants 4 years old $17.50 each

Ugni poeppigii “Chilean Guava”
Myrtaceae. Evergreen shrub to 4–6’. Burgundy colored stems and narrow 
pointed leaves, dark green to bronze-green. Dark pink bell flowers and red 
edible berries. Probably a distinct phenotype of U. molinae rather than a 
true species. The delicious fruit are produced in great abundance. Rooted 
cuts. Z8a?
16"+ plant $24.50*



 
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