The Garden Trail

1. 1

   Stop 1: Trichocereus Pachanoi Monstrose

   This is the “Cristate Form” of the Monstrous. These plants don't grow upright as cacti usually do but in all sorts of different angles.

   Take one home: San Pedro cuttings →Or ask at Plant Sales, near reception.

   

2. 2

   Stop 2: The Spiral Cactus

   This unusual looking plant has grown in a spiral form.

   

3. 3

   Stop 3: Jim's Grafts

   Jim has been having a lot of fun in his laboratory learning how to graft 2 plants together. We have a new title for him now: a “Cactologist”. By grafting a rare or special plant on top of a stock plant you can make the special ones grow much faster.

   You do it as follows:

   1. Get cuttings from each plant.
   2. Put the two together by tensioning them with a stocking pulled tight over the top.
   3. Eventually the top plant will send its roots into the stock plant and start growing.

   

4. 4

   Stop 4: Pilosocereus

   The Pilosocereus family is one of the most spectacular, columnar, tree-like cacti. They can grow up to 10m tall and have these striking blue branches (which by the way, can sometimes wash off if grown outdoors).

   

1. 1

   Stop 1: Trichocereus Pasacana

   A stunning plant to introduce you to the wild Andean Mountains.

   

2. 2

   Stop 2: Soehrensias

   Or to be more exact, a Fat Clumping Trichocereus. The ribbing common among cacti allows the plant to expand and contract in order to collect and conserve water for dry and hot days.

   Take one home: Soehrensia hybrid pups →Or ask at Plant Sales, near reception.

   

3. 3

   Stop 3: Espostoa

   This Stem Cactus originates from the dry mountain slopes from Ecuador to Central Peru. Some varieties can grow as high as 6m (or 20ft). This mature plant has formed a cephalium, which is the thick wooly covered structure that produces the flowers.

   

4. 4

   Stop 4: Stetsonia Coryne

   This plant is referred to as the “Argentine toothpick”: the spines can be up to 15cm (6in) in length! Cacti developed these huge spines to prevent grazing animals from eating it.

   

5. 5

   Stop 5: Cereus

   This cactus grows edible fruit called the Peruvian apple: they are sweet, nutritious and very delicious! We use the fruit of this plant to make our cactus ice-cream.

   Notice how this cactus does not have leaves like “normal” plants? The stem or trunk of the plant has the green colour to take over the role of photosynthesis (which is the essential food making process that happens in plants).

   Try it at the barThe Famous Cactus Combo$15Cactus cake and two scoops of the ice cream made from this fruit.

   

6. 6

   Stop 6: Oreocereus

   Also known as “The Old Man of The Andes”. The thick hair covering these cacti protects them from the fierce Andes' nature elements: they can be covered with snow for 6 months of the year while the hair forms an air pocket between the snow and the flesh of the plant, keeping it warm. The hair also protects the plant from the high UV rays at high altitudes.

   

7. 7

   Stop 7: Pasacana

   A Pasacana similar to this one was transported from our garden to The National Museum of Canberra. It was a feature for the Atacama Desert Exhibition.

   We were not able to find a transport company willing to transport a 3 metre cactus, so Jim and Julie had to deliver it themselves. Jim also supervised the planting procedure in a specially built wooden pot. This one is a Monster and even has a face.

   

1. 1

   Stop 1: Trichocereus Validus

   One of the very large trichocereus, growing up to 10 metres high. The juicy flesh of such a cactus would be welcome to quench your thirst or satisfy your hunger if you were stranded in the desert. Most cacti are not poisonous and the inside flesh is comparable to a juicy apple, although without the pleasant taste.

   

2. 2

   Stop 2: Gum Trees

   This is a good opportunity to compare trees and cacti. There are many differences and they are all adaptations to enable cacti to grow in the desert conditions where other plants can’t survive.

   The most important survival adaptation is to reduce water loss: instead of a bark they have a green trunk that is still very woody underneath to support the plant, but the green colour allows it to photosynthesise which enables it to convert sunlight into food. If cacti had leaves like a tree, it would lose too much water through its leaves and not survive in harsh conditions.

   Try an experiment at home by tying a plastic bag over a branch with leaves during the hottest part of the day and see how much water there will be in the bag in just a few hours.

   

3. 3

   Stop 3: Oreocereus Doelzianus

   These cute little hairy plants look like the “Cousin Itt” family. They grow well in a pot and have beautiful red flowers.

   

4. 4

   Stop 4: Cleistocactus

   Silver Torch

   Notice how this plant has horizontal flowers which only appear on the Northern side of the plant? This is the side which gets most of the sun.

   

5. 5

   Stop 5: Tephrocactus

   These strange looking “Alien” type plants grow high on the Andes. They have ribbon-like spines and are related to the Opuntia family.

   Take one home: Tephrocactus Paprycanthus →Or ask at Plant Sales, near reception.

   

1. 1

   Stop 1: CC Trichocereus

   This magnificent plant is a hybrid grown by Jim of a Pasacana and the small growing Echinopsis.

   

2. 2

   Stop 2: Trichocereus Bridgesii

   Commonly referred to as the Bolivian torch. The one similar to the right is the blue form, called the Blue Torch, commonly called Psychonaut and is a Cactus Country hybrid.

   Take one home: Trichocereus ‘Psycho0’ →Or ask at Plant Sales, near reception.

   

3. 3

   Stop 3: Trichocereus

   This one has purple-pink flowers which is very unusual as most Trichocereus have white flowers.

   

4. ✶

   The Giants

   Enjoy wandering along this path. If you get the sun behind this section of garden you will notice the beautiful red colour to the spines of some varieties.

1. 1

   Stop 1: Opuntia

   There are many different forms of Opuntia, which you may notice in this section of the garden. Many people enjoy the fruit of these plants, which can be eaten raw or used to make jams, fruit pastes, syrups and beverages. The inside of the leaf can also be eaten raw in salads, or be fried or pickled. Our Cactus Cake is made from the flesh of the leaf of one of these varieties.

   Try it at the barCactus Cake$10Homemade with opuntia, served with cream cheese icing and orange syrup.

   

2. 2

   Stop 2: Pony Tail

   This is another example of how plants have adapted to survive in the harsh desert environment. They store water in their trunk and use it during the driest times of the year. Further along the path, there is another specimen of Pony Tail with multiple branches. Can you spot it?

   

3. 3

   Stop 3: Golden Barrel Cactus

   This is probably the most popular cacti of all because of its beautiful golden colour. The largest plants in this area are more than 50 years old. They can live to be several hundred years old and can grow to over 1m in height and 1m in width! The golden yellow flowers appear in the crown of the plant. What a royal plant! This is considered a rare and endangered species in Central Mexico.

   Take one home: Golden Ball cactus →Or ask at Plant Sales, near reception.

   

4. 4

   Stop 4: Ferocactus

   Mexican Fire Barrel

   Ferocactus range from small ones (30 cm wide) to very big ones (over 3 metres in height). A large ferocactus needs a powerful taproot to anchor their weighty bodies to the soil. In addition to the taproot, they also develop a dense lateral root system, which can spread to be a stunning 30 metres long.

   The purpose of these rambling root systems (which are close to the ground surface) is to absorb vital moisture, even when it is only in the form of dew or fog. There is often heavy dew in arid regions, and where soils are gravelly or without a hard crust, the moisture penetrates very rapidly to reach the roots. Thanks to this adaptation the plant has been able to survive in places where others have become extinct.

   The flesh of some Ferocactus is very edible, and tastes like raw potato. At the base of the ‘ferocious’ fishhook spines is a gland containing a sweet sap which the ants milk. In return for the food source, the ants keep the plant clean of bugs, scale and other pests. This variety has beautiful red spines and at sunset they glow like the plant is on fire.

   

5. 5

   Stop 5: Neobuxbaumia Polylopha

   These solitary columned light green cacti can grow to 13m tall and up to 35cm thick at the base. Their flowers range from light to dark red. Notice how the spines point towards the ground? This ensures the droplets from morning dew drip from the spines to the ground, towards the base of the plant. From there, the water gets quickly sucked up by the fibrous roots just under the soil.

   

6. 6

   Stop 6: Ferocactus

   This ferocactus became so heavy we had to prop it up with a post. In their natural environment they would just fall over and new plants would grow along the side of it. After heavy rains in the area, the post of the cactus slipped away. It is now resting on a golden barrel. No one is volunteering to stand it up because it weighs around 2 tonnes.

   

1. 1

   Stop 1: Astrophytums

   Bishops Cap

   These “sea urchin” looking plants resemble a Bishops Cap in shape. This is a Hybrid variety: notice the beautiful white markings? There are 3 other varieties in this section, see if you can find them! As you might see, their form is very symmetrical and the plants have large yellow or white flowers.

   

2. 2

   Stop 2: Agave

   There are more than 300 varieties of Agave, all having the unique characteristic of dying after flowering (which can occur anytime between 7 and 100 years of age). Depending on the species, the flower can attain heights from 1.5m to 11m. Producing such a huge flower stalk, which looks like a tree trunk, it is so exhausting for the plant that soon after flowering it begins to wither and eventually dies.

   

3. 3

   Stop 3: Agave Victoriae Reginae

   Turn around to the little area next to the mural to meet Victoria Reginae. This Agave has a dense cabbage form and is signified by its white line formation on the leaves. It almost looks like someone has painted them on with some white paint.

   

4. ✶

   Spot the Mural Wall

   The 12.5m Mural bordering this trail was painted by Tiarne Hall who used to work at Cactus Country and is an incredibly talented young artist.

   Tiarne called this creation “Brain Scan” and the ABC did a timelapse of her doing the painting and turned it into a mini documentary which was featured in the ABC Australia Day Concert on January 26th, 2021. We are so proud of her and she has many other artworks around Cactus Country! She still comes to visit us and sometimes works with Jim in the garden.

   

5. 4

   Stop 4: Mammillaria Compressa Longispina

   You will notice lots of different Mammillarias on this walk: they all flower in a ring shape and are sometimes referred to as “Fairy Cactus” or “Bridal Veil”. This species grows in a clump with many different heads, some of these very old specimens have up to 50 heads. Most of the other Mammillarias are single-headed plants.

   

6. 5

   Stop 5: Pachycereus Pringlei

   Cardon

   This giant plant is referred to as the Elephant Cactus: it's the tallest cactus species in the world with a maximum recorded height of 19.2m with a 1m diameter trunk.

   This magnificent specimen weighed in at 25 tonnes. A symbiotic relationship exists with bacterial and fungal colonies on the roots of this plant which enable it to grow on bare rocks where no soil is available. The bacteria can fix nitrogen from the air and break down the rock to produce nutrients.

   

7. 6

   Stop 6: Carnegiea Gigantea

   Saguaro

   Saguaro (pronounced suh-wah-row), meaning “the big cactus”, is the State flower of Arizona. This plant can grow to a massive height of 15.25m (50ft), but it is not a fast grower. This specimen was only 18 cm high when we planted it back in 1986! It has grown much faster than we expected and in 2010 it flowered for the first time. From our research, we believe it is one of the only 3 Saguaros to have ever flowered in Australia.

   Fun fact: a mature Saguaro can store up to 3000 litres of water: a true “Living Water Tower”!

   

8. 7

   Stop 7: Stenocereus Marginatus

   Mexican Fence Post

   In very poor areas in Mexico this plant is commonly used to make a fence. A large plant is cut into lengths, dried out so the flesh wouldn't rot and is then planted along a trench. As the cuttings grow it makes a very effective fence. This plant has fallen over and you will see that it is already shooting baby plants from its stem. This is exactly what it does in the wild!

   Take one home: Mexican Fence Post cuttings →Or ask at Plant Sales, near reception.

   

9. 8

   Stop 8: Totem Pole Cactus

   This is a unique cactus because it has no spines! The stalk is very smooth to touch and it can grow to be over 3m tall. This is a naturally occurring mutation and a show stopper in any garden.

   

1. 1

   Stop 1: Wild Grape / Tree Grape

   Cyphostemma Juttae

   A slow growing succulent with a huge swollen trunk (caudiciform) which acts as a water reservoir in times of drought. This succulent grows in Namibia and has evolved and adapted to survive the very hot and dry conditions. The white drooping papery pieces of bark help to reflect the sunlight and keep the plant cooler.

   

2. 2

   Stop 2: Elephant's Foot

   Dioscorea Elephantipes

   This plant is native to South Africa and is simply fascinating! The large tuberous stem can grow to 3 metres in circumference and has a deeply fissured surface, resembling an elephant’s foot. In the summer months the plant sheds its green leaves to conserve energy. There are male and female plants which are pollinated by bees. It is believed that African natives used to use the trunk for food and baked bread out of it.

   Take one home: Elephant’s Foot →Or ask at Plant Sales, near reception.

   

3. 3

   Stop 3: Aloe Barberae

   Tree Aloe

   This is the largest growing Aloe. It has a smooth grey trunk and a massive base that is similar to a huge Elephant's foot. It is a striking sculptural tree which looks spectacular and can grow up to 20 metres tall!

   

4. 4

   Stop 4: Stapelia

   To ensure pollination, this plant has a strange way of enticing insects: it bears an attractive star shaped flower with reddish-brownish spots, resembling meat. In addition, it gives off a disgusting odour of rotting meat (so it is definitely not a good one to plant next to the BBQ). The reason for this strange adaptation, is that where this plant grows in Africa, there are no bees, so the plant needs to attract flies some other way.

   The appearance and smell attracts crowds of blowflies, which lay their eggs in the flower, in the belief that the hatching larvae will have food. Unfortunately for the “poor maggots”, the plant has misled them: they crawl around desperately in search of food, and eventually starve to death. This is an example of one of nature’s incredible adaptations to ensure its survival.

   

5. 5

   Stop 5: Hoodia Gordonii

   This species is listed as one of 400 medicinal plants at risk of extinction from over collection and deforestation. It is native to the Namib Desert and is harvested as an appetite suppressant. The stems can reach up to 1 metre high and have pink or purple flowers.

   

6. Exit the hothouse and wander along the purple trail to find plant number 6.

7. 6

   Stop 6: Aloe

   Aloe species can vary in size from a plant no bigger than your hand, to one as tall as a three storey building. Aloes have moisture storage tissues in their thick succulent leaves. This stockpile of water is very beneficial during drought periods, and it also has the ability to heal itself very quickly when leaves or branches are damaged or broken, so it wouldn't lose its valuable supply.

   This healing effect has long been recognised by humans, and has been referred to as “the medicine plant”, “first aid plant” and even the “plant of immortality”. Although there are over 450 different species of Aloe, there are only 3 or 4 with medicinal properties. The gel from the leaf can be taken internally for its nutritional and antioxidant effect, or externally for the treatment of burns and wounds.

   

8. 7

   Stop 7: Aeonium “Zwartkopf”

   A striking succulent with its dark purple (almost black) rosette leaves. It has large clusters of bright coloured yellow star shaped blooms.

   

9. 8

   Stop 8: Euphorbias

   There are over 2,000 different forms of Euphorbia ranging from non-succulent weeds to huge trees. Important: they are succulents, not cacti, even though they often have spikes. All the Euphorbia's organs have a white milky sap, and any injury to the plant causes heavy bleeding. This sap is poisonous and if it touches sensitive areas of the skin it will cause inflammation. The sap is very dangerous and painful in open wounds, the nose, mouth and it can cause temporary blindness to the eye. Animals have also learned to leave this plant alone.

   One species of this family of plants has recently attracted the attention of scientists who have discovered that the dangerous sap contains large amounts of hydrocarbons, which may be changed into a petrol-like product. It is extraordinary to think our future cars may run on plant material! It has been calculated that 1 hectare of plants could produce 125 barrels of pure petrol.

   

Venture out to the new sections of this trail where you can find Bottle Trees that were transplanted from Shepparton and the Pink Floss Tree. If you happen to see it in flower it is spectacular!