A visit to Cactus Jungle in Berkeley, CA

I had a meeting in Berkeley yesterday, and I left home a little early to swing by one of the most unique nurseries in the Bay Area: Cactus Jungle. Located in a light industrial area just a few blocks from I-80, Cactus Jungle’s unassuming home belies the treasure trove of plants waiting inside the barbed wire-studded fence. Not a large nursery by any stretch of the imagination, it is nonetheless stocked with a nice variety of succulents, California natives, seasonal vegetables, and even bamboo! Owners Hap Hollibaugh and Peter Lipson clearly embrace the motto of this blog: “Bamboo, Succulents and More” :-).

I’d been to Cactus Jungle several times before, but I’d never had a camera along. This time I did, and I’d like to share some photos with you.

120208_CactusJungle_53
Large Eve’s needle cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata) at the entrance
120208_CactusJungle_Austrocylindropuntia-subulata
Eve’s needle cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata)
120208_CactusJungle_52
Plantings on the right-hand side of the entrance: prickly pear, spurge, assorted succulents and a large jade plant (Crassula ovata)
120208_CactusJungle_Crassula-ovata
Check out the trunk on that jade plant—and of course the flowers
120208_CactusJungle_18
One of the unique things about Cactus Jungle: most plants are in non-plastic pots, including terracotta, glazed ceramic, wooden boxes (for large specimens) or eco pots made from natural plant fibers
120208_CactusJungle_aeoniums_lg
Wide variety of aeoniums, both larger plants…
120208_CactusJungle_aeoniums_sm
…and smaller
120208_CactusJungle_Aeoniums
Two particularly beautiful aeonium specimens: Aenonium ‘Sunburst’ on the left and Aeonium holochrysum on the right
120208_CactusJungle_Aeonium-Sunset
Aenonium ‘Sunburst’
                                                                                                                                                  
120208_CactusJungle_Aeonium-atropurpureum
 120208_CactusJungle_Aeonium-balsamiferum
LEFT: Aeonium atropurpureum getting ready to bloom
(which unfortunately spells the demise of this one rosette)
RIGHT: Aeonium balsamiferum
120208_CactusJungle_Coreopsis-gigantea_01
Coreopsis gigantea, native to the coastal areas and islands of Southern California. I’ve wanted one since since seeing a specimen at Ruth Bancroft Garden. I was thrilled to find some at Cactus Jungle, and one of them went home with me.
120208_CactusJungle_Coreopsis-gigantea_02
The largest of the four Coreopsis gigantea
120208_CactusJungle_Yucca-rostrata_01
I was equally happy to see this large specimen of Yucca rostrata. While smaller plants are becoming easier to find, large ones are still quite rare (and expensive). I estimate that this one is 20+ years old.
120208_CactusJungle_Aloe-plicatilis
Fan aloe (Aloe plicatilis) or, as I call it, tongue depressor plant. One of my favorite aloes, but large specimens are costly.
120208_CactusJungle_09
Assortment of larger aloes…
120208_CactusJungle_Aloe-polyphylla_01
…and an absolutely stunning spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla). Berkeley has the perfect climate for Aloe polyphylla. This aloe dislikes temperatures above 90°F, and I keep ours in the shade in the summer.
120208_CactusJungle_04
Another perfect Aloe polyphylla in good company
120208_CactusJungle_Dracaena-draco_01
Canary Island dragon tree (Dracaena draco)
120208_CactusJungle_51
Shaggy-haired cactus from the Andes (I forgot to check the label, so I don’t know if it’s an oreocereus or another genus)
120208_CactusJungle_06
Columnar…
120208_CactusJungle_24
…and barrel cacti
120208_CactusJungle_23
Whatever you preference, you’re sure to find something you like
120208_CactusJungle_Echinocactus-grusonii
A particularly impressive golden barrel cactus cluster (Echinocactus grusonii)
120208_CactusJungle_Ferrocactus-glaucescens_02
Blue barrel (Ferocactus glaucescens) getting ready to bloom. I’ve wanted one for a long time, but the $125 price tag was beyond my budget.
120208_CactusJungle_25
The Cactus Jungle guys have a sense of humor!
120208_CactusJungle_Leuchtenbergia-principis
Large agave cactus (Leuchtenbergia principis)
120208_CactusJungle_27
Agaves and dyckias make for a nice combination of colors and textures
120208_CactusJungle_22
Freshly propagated sempervivums in pots made of natural fiber
120208_CactusJungle_37
Succulent wreath and wall panel
120208_CactusJungle_21
Vertical herb garden
120208_CactusJungle_caudiciforms
“Fat plants” in the rare plant room
120208_CactusJungle_Zamia-floridiana
I even came across a cycad, a small coontie (Zamia floridiana)
120208_CactusJungle_47
What goes better with succulents than bamboo!
120208_CactusJungle_48
I was running out of time and couldn’t check their selection of pottery, but it looks like they have some nice pieces there

Cactus Jungle is located at 1509 4th St in Berkeley. Be sure to read their entertaining blog and check out their instructional videos on YouTube.

Comments

  1. Wow, that Jade plant is gorgeous. Had never seen the flowers on it before! Loved the Spiral Aloe. Too bad they don't like our weather! So many unusual things, was the car packed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope, I only bought two plants. I like to have a wish list to make return trips worthwhile.

      Delete
  2. I had no idea Jade plants could get that large! Nice look at what seems like a very cool place. I like the idea of buying a plant in a nice pot already, although it seems like you're paying for something you don't need if you're going to put the plant in the ground. Interesting idea though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really appreciate their efforts to reduce the use of plastic containers that most people end up throwing away. At least a terracotta pot is more likely to be reused, and if it isn't, it's not going to pose much of an environmental burden.

      Frankly, I think getting a terracotta pot thrown in is actually a bargain, considering that virtually all 4" plants I looked at were $5.95. That's only a few pennies more than what a mainstream nursery charges for much more common plants.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the tour, it looks like a fun place to visit. Cactus nurseries are almost an oxymoron up here in Canada. It might be worth a trip south in the near future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's a bunch of places to explore in the greater Bay Area. You should definitely plan a trip!

      Delete
  4. All that and a great blog too! (plus they like plantlust.com)...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for the tour Gerhard! Gorgeous succulents especially the Aloe plicatilis and polyphylla. The Leuchtenbergia principis is a new one to me, lovely! I see that it has the price tag to match too...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leuchtenbergia principis is an interesting cactus. Long tap root, so it likes a tall (rather than wide) container, unlike most cactus. The "spines" are like dried paper, not at all sharp.

      Delete
  6. Super post Gerhard! Looks like a great place to visit! I need to go and get some sunbursts! My nephew and his girlfriend got me a vertical planter with plants for Christmas from there! So awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Candy, you and I should go on a nursery-hopping tour of the Bay Area this spring!

      Delete

Post a Comment