The New Year often begins with a crop of garden catalogs arriving in the mail with a number of these offering either seeds or plants of cacti and succulents. Here are a few of the early catalogs I’ve received.

Bluestone Perennials

When it comes to hardy succulents, there’s no better source than Bluestone Perennials. Their 2007 catalog offers more kinds than I would have ever imagined. These are sold in pots.

They have three kinds of spurges, including cushion spurge, Tasmanian Tiger spurge, and Chameleon Euphorbia dulcis.

I’m partial to hen and chicks, and like the fact that Bluestone has six different kinds. These include cobweb Sempervivum—noted for its wisp-like hairs, Brauni—a green one, and five kinds with brightly colored foliage, including Red Beauty, Silverine, and Twilight Blue.

Concerning hardy stonecrops, Bluestone is a wonderful source. They have four varieties of showy stonecrop. Among these are Brilliant, Neon, and Stardust. They also have a variegated form of Kamtschatka stonecrop as well as Ruby Glow, Matrona, and Vera Jameson.

Of the two row stonecrop, they offer John Creech, Voodoo, and Fulda Glow. In addition, they also list several other stonecrops, including Purple Emperor, Autumn Fire, Siebold, and Angelina. One of the easiest ways to buy Sedums from Bluestone is to just order the collection, which has one plant
each of six different varieties.


High Country Gardens

This company specializes in tough, drought-tolerant plants, many of which are native. The emphasis is on ones that are hardy in the West though some are suited to other areas of the country.

Their 2007 catalog features various kinds of agave plants. In addition to selling individual species of agaves, they also have a collection of cold hardy ones with four different kinds.

Similarly, they also offer a collection of four different yuccas as well. There is also a collection of five different hardy cacti. All of these collections are recommended either for zones five through nine or ten.

In addition, High Country offers a collection of succulents that are slightly less hardy, for zones six through ten. These species are originally native to South Africa. In colder climates, they can be brought indoors for the winter months.

High Country also sells one cultivar of Little Plum Lewisia and desert spoon.


Territorial Seeds

Territorial Seeds has been in business for over 25 years. For 2007, they’re offering a new seed mix, Sundial Mix Portulaca or moss rose. The mix features plants with flowers in a wide range of colors. These include cream, orange, red, gold, and magenta. Some of these have bright, contrasting centers. These fully double blooms remain open longer during the day than most moss rose flowers do.