DESERT

These are true desert plants or from very dry areas or a coastal sand dunes
 

PRICE STRUCTURE

There are 4 levels, the higher the level the more costly and or more time consuming the plant is to breed.

For more details go to the Nuts & Bolts button

MAIL ORDER

All mail order prices include the post and packing  (£1.50 per litre volume) so the price you see is the price you pay, for full details please go to the Nuts & Bolts button. Large orders may be sent in multiple packages. Mainland Great Britain only at the moment I'm afraid, anywhere else by request. Not all plants are available for mail order (they may be the wrong size or out of stock or too low in numbers) but can still be on sale at the nursery. Minimum order £10.00

EXPLANATIONS

USDA zones are zones of minimum average winter temperatures, roughly speaking any plant with a number 7 or less is hardy pretty well anywhere in the UK, zone 8 is hardy but some plants may need some winter protection in particularly cold or exposed places, zone 9 can be grown in coastal or urban situations and with a lot of winter protection, zone 10 need coddling

CODES 

Aciphylla Aurea
Evergreen "Bayonet Grass" from alpine meadows in New Zealand, flowers summer and gets 3' by 3', full sun, slow growing and vicious
USDA zone 5    2 Litre, nursery price £5.00   LEVEL2    HOT                                        Mail order not yet available                  don't  

Aciphyla Glaucascens
Evergreen of alpine stony areas in New Zeakand, flowers white in summer and gets 3' by 3', full sun and well drained, slow
USDA zone 7    3 Litre, nursery price £6.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                      Mail order not yet available

Aeonium Hierrense
Evergreen "El Hierro Houseleek" grows in rocky areas in El Hierro (Canaries), flowers once, grows 3' tall by 2' sunny but well drained site, winter protection
USDA zone 9    3 Litre, nursery price £6.00    LEVEL2     HOT                                      Mail order size 3 Litre, cost inc p&p £6.00     

Agave Americana
Evergreen from central American desert, flowers once and grows 6' tall by 10' wide, full sun well drained soil, may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8/9     20 Litre, nursery price £25.00    LEVEL2     HOT     picture             Mail order size 3 Litre, cost inc p&p £10.50   

Agave Americana Variegata
As above
USDA zone 8/9      20 Litre, nursery price £25.00    LEVEL2      HOT                          Mail order size 3 Litre, cost inc p&p £10.50    

Agave Asperrima ssp Madarense
Evergreen "Rough Agave" of open ground in Coahuila Mexico, flowers summer and gets 3' by 4' wide, full sun very well drained soil
USDA zone 8    7.5Litre, nursery price £15.00    LEVEL3    HOT                                 Mail order not yet available  

Agave Attenuata
"Swan's Neck Agave" of stony areas in Mexico, flowers summer and gets 4' by 3' wide, nearly extinct in the wild, full sun very well drained, will need winter protection
USDA zone 9    7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                 Mail order not yet available

Agave Durangensis
Evergreen from rocky ground in Zacatas and Durango (Mexico), gets 4' tall by 6', flowers summer, full sun and very well drained soil, may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8    7.5 litre, nursery price £15.00    LEVEL3    HOT                              Mail order not yet available

Agave Filifera
Evergreen "Thread Leaf Agave" of sandy areas in east Mexico, flowers summer and grows 1' tall by 2' wide, full sun very well drained site, may need a bit of winter protection
USDA zone 8      4 Litre, nursery price £10.00    LEVEL3      HOT                                Mail order not yet available

Agave Flexispina
Evergreen from upland scrub in Chihuahua (Mexico), flowers summer and gets 1' tall by 2' across, full sun and very well drained spot
USDA zone 7     4 Litre, nursery price £10.00    LEVEL3    HOT                                    Mail order not yet available

Agave Horrida ssp Horrida
Evergreen "Mexcalmet" from upland scrub in central Mexico, flowers summer and gets 2' by 2', full sun very well drained. may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8     2 Litre, nursery price £6.00    LEVEL3    HOT                                       Mail order not yet available

Agave Maximilliana
Evergreen found in stony alpine woodsfrom Jalisco to Zacatas (Mexico), flowers summer and grows 2' tall by 3', full sun very well drained, may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8/9    2 Litre, nursery price £6.00    LEVEL3    HOT                                    Mail order not yet available                  don't  

Agave Montana
Evergreen from Le Pana (Mexico) in mountain woodland gets 4' tall by 5', summer flowering and sunny site, the ultimate hardy agave
USDA zone 8     7.5 Litre, nursery price £15.00    LEVEL3                                                Mail order not yet available

Agave Ovatifolia
Evergreen "Whales Tongue" from open ground and scrub in northern Mexico, flowers summer and gets 5' tall by 6', full sun and very well drained soil
USDA zone 8    7.5Litre, nursery price £15.00    LEVEL3    HOT                                      Mail order not yet available                  don't 

Agave Parryii
"Mescal" evergreen from north Mexico to southwest USA, growing in stony mountain scrub, gets 4' tall by 6' and flowers summer, full sun very well drained soil
USDA zone 8    7.5 Litre, nursery price £15.00      LEVEL3    HOT                                   Mail order not yet available

Agave Salmiana
Evergreen of open ground in Tehuacan (Mexico), flowers summer, and gets 6' tall by 12' wide, full sun and very well drained, may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8    20 Litre, nursery price £25.00     LEVEL2    HOT    picture                       Mail order size 3 Litre, cost inc p&p £11.50  

Agave Salmiana var Crassispina
As above but from Zacatan instead
USDA zone 8/9    20 Litre, nursery price £25.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                    Mail order not yet available                don't  

Agave Shrevei ssp Magna
Evergreen from sparse alpine woodland in Chihuahua (Mexico), flowers summer and gets 4' tall by 6', sunny site very well drained, may need a bit of shelter
USDA zone 8    20 Litre, nursery price £25.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                     Mail order not yet available

Agave Stricta Rubra
Evergreen "Red Hedgehog" grows on open desert flats in Puebla (Mexico), flowers summer and gets 1' x 1', full sun very well drained, may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8/9    2 Litre, nursery price £6.00    LEVEL3    HOT                                       Mail order not yet available

Agave Xylocantha
Evergreen of dry decidous forest in central Mexico, flowers summer and gets 3' tall by 4', sunny site very well drained, may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8/9    7.5 Litre, nursery price £15.00     LEVEL3    HOT                                  Mail order not yet available

Aloe Broomii
Evergreen "Bergalwyn" of dry scrubby slopes in South Africa, flowers orangish in summer and grows 5' tall by 3', full sun and well drained soil, winter protection
USDA zone 8/9    4 Litre, nursery price £10.00    LEVEL3     HOT                                    Mail order note yet available

Aloe Ecklonis
From rocky areas and scrub in South Africa, flowers summer and gets 12"+ by 12"+, needs full sun and very well drained soil
USDA zone 7    4 Litre, nursery price £10.00    LEVEL3     HOT    picture                        Mail order not yet available             don't  

Aloe Reitzii
Grows in South African desert, flowers summer, 12" high by 18" needs full sun and very well drained, possibly a bit of winter protection also.
USDA zone 8    2 Litre, nursery price £6.00    LEVEL3    HOT                                           Mail order not yet available

Mail order size 3 Litre cost inc p&p £11.50   

Aloe Vera
Evergreen from northern African desert, flowers yellow in summer, and grows 2' to 3' tall by 2' wide, clump forming, full sun and very well drained, needs winter protection
USDA zone 9    4 Litre, nursery price £8.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                            Mail order not yet available

Anizoganthus Flavidus
Evergreen "Tall Kangeroo Paw", growing in heathland and sandy plains in Australia, flowering late summer and gets 3' tall by 1' across, full sun and well drained soil, may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8/9     4 Litre, nursery price £8.00     picture     LEVEL2       HOT                   Mail order not yet available

Mail order size 2 Litre, cost inc p&p £8.00   

Evergreen "Barrens Claw Flower" grows in rocky areas of west Australia, flowers summer and is between 2' to 4' by 2' to 4', needs full sun and poor well drained soil, needs some winter protection but does best in containers.
USDA zone 8      7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                  Mail order size 2 Litre, cost inc p&p £8.00     

Crassula Perforata Pagoda
Evergreen of garden origin and sandy scrub habitat. flowers summer and gets 2' tall by 1' wide, full sun very well drained, will need winter protection
USDA zone 9    2 Litre, nursery price £4.50    LEVEL1    HOT                                         Mail order not yet available

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Crassula Sarcocaulis
Evergreen from semi- desert in South Africa, flowers summer onwards and grows 2' by 2', full sun well drained soil, looks great smells of feet, great mother in law present
USDA zone 8      4 Litre, nursery price £6.00    LEVEL1   HOT                                        Mail order size 2 Litre, cost inc p&p £7.50   

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Crassula Setulosa
Evergreen "Furry Crassula" of stony grassland in South Africa, flowers white in summer and grows 1/2" tall by 12" across, full sun, well drained
USDA zone 7     4 litre, nursery price £8.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                          Mail order not yet available

Crithmum Maritinum
The "Samphire" is an evergreen perennial growing by the sea all along the Atlantic coastline, flowers in summer and gets about 1' by 1' and needs a sunny but well drained position. must check this but apparantly used as a garnish or pickle    
USDA zone 7     2 Litre, nursery price £4.50    LEVEL1    BEACH                                 Mail order size 2 Litre, cost inc p&p £7.50   

Delosperma Nubigenum
"Yellow Ice Plant" evergreen and from desert scrub in South Africa, flowers summer and gets 2" tall by 8" wide, sunny and well drained. mat forming
USDA zone 8    0.3 Litre, nursery price £1.50    LEVEL1    HOT                                     Mail order size 0.3 Litre, cost inc p&p £2.00   

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Dianella Tasmanica
Evergreen "Blue Flax-Lily" from sandy rocky areas in southeast Australia, flowers summer and grows 3' tall by 1' wide, sunny site well drained soil
USDA zone 8      3 Litre, nursery price £5.00    LEVEL1                                                   Mail order not yet available

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Dracaena Colchinensis

Evergreen of limestone slopes in south China and Vietnam, flowers white in summer, grows to 30'+ and to 8' wide, sunny well drained and winter protection
USDA zone 10    20 litre, nursery price £25.00    LEVEL2                                                 Mail order size 3 Litre, cost inc p&p £6.00   

Drosanthemum Hispidum
Evergreen and from semi-desert in South Africa, flowers all summer and reaches 6" high by 36" across, needs full sun and dry soil
USDA zone 8     2 Litre, nursery price £4.50    LEVEL1     HOT                                       Mail order not yet available,              don't   

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Echeveria Black Prince
Evergreen of garden origin and rocky scrub habitat, flowers red in late summer, grows 4" tall by 12" across,full sun and very well drained, will need winter protection
USDA zone 9     2 Litre, nursery price £5.00    LEVEL2     HOT                                       Mail order not yet available

Echeveria Peacockii
Evergreen from Mexican desert, flowers summer and gets 2" tall by 6", full sun very well drained soil, will need some winter protection
USDA zone 9    1 Litre, nursery price £2.50    LEVEL1    HOT                                          Mail order size 1 Litre, cost inc p&p £4.00   

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Echeveria Rundellii
Evergreen of  scrubby desert in mexico, flowers red/orange in summer, grows 2" tall by 6" wide, full sun and very well drained, needs winter shelter, slow growing
USDA zone 9     1 litre, nursery price £3.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                           Mail order not yet available

    LEVEL2    HOT                                        Mail order not yet available               don't  

, nursery price £25.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                           Mail order size 3 Litre, cost inc p&p £10.50    

, nursery price £4.50     LEVEL1    HOT                                             Mail order not yet available,             don't  

Lampranthus Brownii
Evergreen of dry sandy areas in South Africa, flowers all summer and grows 2" tall by18" wide, full sun well drained soil
USDA zone 8       0.5 Litre, nursery price £2.00    LEVEL1     HOT                                       Mail order size 0.5 Litre, cost inc p&p £3.50   

Leymus Arenarius
Of sand dunes in north and west Europe, flowers summer and grows 2' to 4' tall by 2'+ wide, full sun and well drained soil
USDA zone 4     2 Litre, nursery price £4.50    LEVEL1    HOT   BEACH                              Mail order size 2 Litre, cost inc p&p £7.50   

Maihuenii Poepigii
Evergreen and growing in high altitude desert in south Chile and south Argentina, flowers summer and gets 3" tall by 12" across, full sun and as dry as posible
USDA zone 5    1 Litre, nursery price £3.50    LEVEL3    HOT                                                 Mail order size 1 Litre, cost inc p&p £5.00   

Ochogavia Rosea
Evergreen growing in rocky scrub in Chile, flowers late summer and gets 2' tall by 4' wide, full sun, well drained, tight clump forming
USDA zone 8    7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                           Mail order not yet available                don't  

Opuntia Polycantha
Evergreen of dry areas from Canada to north Mexico, flowers summer and grows 3' tall by 2' wide, full sun very well drained soil, variable plant
USDA zone 3    3 Litre, nursery price £6.00     LEVEL2     HOT     picture                              Mail order size 3 Litre, cost inc p&p £10.50   

Penstemon Heterophyllus Zuriblau
Semi-evergreen "Foothill Penstemon", found on dry coastal hills in California , flowers summer and gets 20" tall by 15" across, full sun well drained
USDA zone 7    2 Litre, nursery price £4.50    LEVEL1    HOT    COAST                                Mail order size 2 Litre, cost inc p&p £7.50   

Phoenix Canariensis
Evergreen "Canary Island Date" growing in woodland and srub in the Canaries, flowers summer and gets to 50' tall by 40' wide, best in sunny sheltered site
USDA zone 8   25 Litre, nursery price £30.00   LEVEL2     HOT                                               Mail order not yet available                don't  

Ptilotus Exaltatus
Evergreen "Pink Mulla Mulla" from sandy plains in central Australia, flowers early summer onwards, grows 2' by 2', full sun very well drained soil, probably short lived, just about impossible to breed but incredibly fast growing and very heavily flowering
USDA zone 7    2 Litre, nursery price £8.00    picture    LEVEL4    HOT                                   Mail order not yet available

Puya Berteroana
The evergreen "Sheepkiller" growing on dry hillsides in Chile, flowers summer gets 12' high by 4' across, needs full sun and well drained soil, needs some winter protection, spectacular, if you have ever met one you'll know why it kills sheep, vicious little sod.
USDA zone 8/9    7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                        Mail order not yet available                 don't  

Puya Coerulae
Evergreen "Sheep Killer" of woody scrub in central Chile, flowers summer and gets 6' by 6', full sun very well drained soil, will need some winter shelter
USDA zone 8    7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                           Mail order not yet available

Puya Chilensis
As above but to 15' high by 7' wide, and a bit hardier
USDA zone 9     7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                          Mail order not yet done

Ruschia Putterlili
Evergreen of dry areas in South Africa, flowers pink in summer and gets 6" by 6", full sun, well drained
USDA zone 7     1 Litre, nursery price £3.00    LEVEL2     HOT                                              Mail order not yet available

Scaevola Crassifolia
Evergreen from coastal dunes in Australia, flowers summer and gets 12" tall by 36" across, full sun and sandy soil and a fair amount of winter protection
USDA zone 9      2 Litre, nursery price £5.00    LEVEL2   HOT                                               Mail order not yet available

Washingtonia Filifera
Evergreen "Desert Fan Palm" from southeast USA growing by desert springs and streams,flowers summer and grows to 70' tall by 20' wide, full sun and well drained and sheltered site especially when young
USDA zone 8/9   25 litre, nursery price £30.00   LEVEL2         HOT                                       Mail order not yet done

Washingtonia Robusta
Evergreen "Thread Palm" of coastal woodland in California and northwest Mexico, flowers summer and grows to 80' tall by 12' wide, full sun and well drained soil, kepp sheltered especially when young
USDA zone 8/9    25 Litre, nursery price £30.00   LEVEL2       HOT                                        Mail order not yet done

Xanthorrhea Australis
Evergreen "Grass Tree" of sandy heaths in Australia, flowers autumn and grows to 10' tall by 5' wide, full sun and very well drained soil, shelterd spot, slow growing but fire tolerant, also needs to send its roots out for miles so actually forms a big plant if planted out quite quickly 3 to 4 years although a trunk will form 20 years later, however does not like being dug up which is why the very expensive ones you used to buy in garden centres quite often died
USDA zone 8     4 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL3    HOT                                             Mail order size 2 Litre, cost inc p&p £9.00  

Xanthorrhea Preissii
Evergreen "Black Boy" of scrubland in southeast Australia, flowers summer and reaches 10' by 4' wide, full sun and well drained soil, may need some winter protection
USDA zone 8    4 Litre, nursery price £10.00    LEVEL3     HOT                                             Mail order size 2 Litre, cost inc p&p £9.00  

Yucca Aloifolia
The evergreen "Spanish Bayonet" comes from southeast USA, Mexico and the West Indies, grows in desert and plains, flowers summer and grows to 20' tall by 10' wide, full sun and well drained, slow growing and very dangerous spines.
USDA zone 8    7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2   HOT                                              Mail order not yet available                  don't   

Yucca Aloifolia Purpurea
As above
USDA zone 8     7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00     LEVEL2    HOT                                           Mail order not yet available                  don't  

Yucca Faxoniana
Evergreen of sandy scrub in Texas and North mexico, flowers white in summer and grows to 18' tall by 4' wide, full sun and well drained soil
USDA zone 6     10 Litre, nursery price £15.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                             Mail order not yet done

Yucca Filamentosa
Evergreen "Adams Needle" from east USA growing in desert and plains, flowers summer gets 4' high by 3', clump forming, not good in pots, Full sun
USDA zone 7     7.5 Litre, nursery price £9.00    LEVEL1     HOT                                             Mail order size 3 Litre, cost inc p&p £9.50   

Yucca Filifera
Evergreen fo rocky desert slopes in north eastern Mexico, flowers summer and gets 25' tall by 10', full sun very well drained soil, may need a bit of winter protection
USDA zone 8    20 Litre, nursery price £25.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                               Mail order not yet available,                 don't  

Yucca Gloriosa
Evergreen "Spanish Dagger" of sandy plains from North Carolina to Florida, flowers summer grows 8' tall to 6' wide, full sun and well drained soil
USDA zone 8     7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                             Mail order not yet available

Yucca Gloriosa Variegata
As above
USDA zone 8     7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                              Mail order not yet available

Yucca Rostrata
Evergreen "Beaked Yucca" found on rocky desert flats in Chihuahua (Texas & Mexico), flowers summer and gets to 15' tall by 5', full sun well drained, slow growing
USDA zone 7     7.5 Litre, nursery price £12.00    LEVEL2    HOT                                               Mail order not yet available,             don't