Cacti are commonly grown in the Jardín Botánico. Here Isolatocereus dumortieri stretches its columnar branches skyward. Although the beds are planted sufficiently densely to give them an overall pleasant visual appeal, they don’t feel overcrowded, as plants are allowed to flourish in the neatly raked open beds as well as in soil pockets tucked between the volcanic rock walls. In the Jardín, plants invariably have ‘leg room’, which allows them to grow to their full size and makes it possible for the visitor to enjoy them from all angles. Species of Yucca, another horticulturally important genus of the Agavaceae, are grown to great effect in the Jardín. Two species in particular are used extensively as eye-catching landscape plants. The first is the wellknown Yucca filifera, commonly known as espadilla in Mexico. In the Jardín, some specimens have attained truly gigantic dimensions. The more or less leafless stems and branches tower over the other plants and, in terms of height, are challenged only when a specimen of the enormous Agave salmiana or Agave mapisaga sends its flowering pole skywards. The second species is Yucca elephantipes, which must rate as one of the most
commonly grown indoor and landscape plants in the world. It usually does not grow quite as tall as Y. filifera, but is certainly no less imposing. In time, an old established specimen will develop an impressively fattened, multibranched trunk. Yucca elephantipes is widely used as a decorative street tree in Mexico City, and one finds them planted on pavements or along kerbs. Interestingly, the lower metre or so of the stems of these and other street trees are often painted with a water-based whitewash to variously discourage soil-based insects from climbing up the stems, protect the trunk against excessive sun heat and improve the visibility of the tree for night-time drivers. Mexico has a significant number of indigenous cactus species, a large variety of which are grown in the Jardín, especially representatives of the subfamily Opuntioideae. Apart from the plants grown in the beds, there are also several greenhouse collections of rare and threatened cactus species. Mexico City’s dense urbanisation lends itself to utilising succulent plants in both public and amenity gardening. By making use of these tough botanical specialists, particularly agaves and cacti, gardeners and landscape designers are effectively paying tribute to their many uses in their native land. These show-stopping beauties exude substance and style wherever they are planted, imparting a refreshingly exotic atmosphere, even in a tiny suburban garden. Although not much of the region’s original vegetation remains untouched by human development, the Jardín Botánico is constantly seeking innovative ways to display the abundance of cultivated material in its collection. Even regular visitors to the Garden will always find something new to admire. WATER-GUZZLING LAWNS The days of carefully cultivating extensive water-inefficient lawns are numbered, particularly in areas that are waterstressed for all or part of the year. In parts of the world, several grass species used for lawns have become so successful where they are cultivated that they are now regarded as noxious weeds. The popular kikuyu grass, Pennisetum clandestinum, and couch grass, Cynodon dactylon, and some of its selected
forms and cultivars, such as ‘Florida’, are two well-known examples. Beautifully kept lawns surround the beds, making it easy to navigate around the Garden. Couch grass, Cynodon dactylon, is hardier than kikuyu, but the species tends to become invasive when it is grown away from its natural habitat.
In temperate and tropical areas, kikuyu grass, Pennisetum clandestinum, is widely used as a lawn or pasture grass, but it has invasive tendencies. It grows well in the Jardín Botánico in Mexico. Succulents and more succulents everywhere you look. A general view of the paradise that is the Jardín Botánico. The robust species growing in the right foreground is a young specimen of Agave salmiana var. salmiana.
Even though the basic shape of species of Agave only rarely varies from the rosulate leaf succulent configuration, they come in a large variety of sizes. This near-mature plant of A. isthmensis is one of the small-growing species suitable for cultivation in a container on a windowsill. In vivid contrast to Agave isthmensis, A. salmiana var. salmiana grows to the size of a small family car. This specimen, which has come to the end of its life, has sent a flowering pole of a good 10m skywards.
Like many species of Agave, the leaf margins of Agave filifera are adorned with white threads. These plants grow as small, compact, but multi-leaved rosettes. The trunks and rosettes of an imposing Yucca filifera are silhouetted against a rather drab Mexican sky.
Many species of Agave have bluish silver leaves, making them ideal for growing in situations where this colour is required to brighten up a dull spot. Agave scabra, pictured here, is a medium-sized species with this property.
Agave leaves are known to carry bud imprints. Here Agave cupreata shows this strikingly beautiful feature. PEST CONTROL Where dense concentrations of species belonging to only a few genera and families are grown together, severe insect infestations can occur from time to time, even where their natural enemies are present. If the predators of the pests are present, resist the temptation to apply synthetic poisons, which are environmentally unfriendly and will generally exterminate the good along with the bad.
Echeveria gibbiflora rosettes consist of large, blue-pink leaves while the waxy flowers (inset) are a purplish pink. Although the prickly pear, Opuntia ficus-indica, is easily naturalised in countries to which it has been introduced, here in its native Mexico it looks perfectly in place in a bed filled with other native succulents.
White volcanic gravel is used as an inorganic ground cover around clumps of Agave mitis var. albidior (bluish leaves) and Agave kerchovei (dark green leaves) in the courtyard of the Instituto de Biología, adjacent to the Jardín Botánico.
Sedum praealtum subsp. praealtum, which has bright yellow flowers (inset), can be grown into a hedge, or will thrive as a specimen plant in a tub on a patio. This species is widely cultivated in subtropical and mild-temperate regions.
One for the record books: Agave mapisaga var. mapisaga is one of the largest-growing species of this genus.
Eclectic minimalism in modern garden landscaping. A single row of Agave americana var. americana is cultivated along the one wing of the Instituto de Biología. Blue-leaved gems to brighten up a garden. Agave parryi var. parryi and Agave parryi var. huachucensis grow as small, compact rosettes.
A rare sight: this long-stemmed Dasylirion longissimum is very old. In cultivation, this species is most often encountered as a stemless shrub.
The sharp-tipped, spear-shaped leaves of Hesperaloe funifera are adorned with leaf marginal threads. The leaves are similar to, but thinner than, those of the unrelated African succulent Sansevieria pearsonii. The flowers are quite small and insignificant, unlike those of the red-flowered H. parviflora. FACT BOX ADDRESS: Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología de la UNAM: Jardín Botánico Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito Exterior, 04510 México City, México. CONTACT: +52 (525) 5622 90 63; email: [email protected] OPENING HOURS: Daily 09:00–16:30 except public holidays and UNAM vacations. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year-round. COST: No entrance fee charged.
ATTRACTIONS: Guided tours, courses and workshops, concert series, special events, shop. FACILITIES: Book shop and gift shop (Tigridia Tienda de los Amigos del Jardín Botánico) which has a small glassed-in plant sales area. ACCESSIBILITY: Accessible by public transport (metro and bus), and by car. INFORMATION: http://www.ibiologia.unam.mx/jardin/ ubicacion/ubicacion.html
Further reading Introduction Baldwin, D. L. 2007. Designing with succulents. Timber Press, Portland. Duffield, M.R. & Jones, W. 2001. Plants for dry climates. How to select, grow and enjoy. Perseus Publishing, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Filippi, O. 2008. The dry gardening handbook. Plants and practices for a changing climate. Thames & Hudson, London. Lake, J. 1996. Gardening in a hot climate. Lothian Books, Port Melbourne. Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, Worcester, South Africa Van Wyk, A.E. & Smith, G.F. 2001. Regions of floristic endemism in southern Africa. A review with emphasis on succulents. Umdaus Press, Hatfield. Obesa Gardens, Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa Van Jaarsveld, E.J., Van Wyk, B-E. & Smith, G.F. 2000. Succulents of South Africa. A guide to the regional diversity. Tafelberg Publishers, Cape Town. Jardin Exotique d’Eze, Côte d’Azur, France Bradley-Hole, K. 2006. Villa gardens of the Mediterranean. From the archives of Country Life. Aurum Press Limited, London. Greggio, S. & Gosset, G. 2002. Itinéraires de découvertes. La Cóte d’Azur des Jardins. Éditions Ouest-France, Rennes. Jones, L. & Motte, V. 1994. Gardens of the French Riviera. Flammarion, Paris. Valéry, M-F. 1997. Gardens in France. Jardins de France en fleurs. Gärten in Frankreich. Benedikt Taschen Verlag, Köln. Les Cèdres, Côte d’Azur, France Demoly, J-P. 1999. ‘Les Cèdres’. An exceptional botanical garden. Franklin Picard Editions, Paris. Jones, L. & Motte, V. 1994. As cited above. Russell, V. 1994. Gardens of the Riviera. Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., New York. Jardin Exotique de Monaco, Côte d’Azur, Monaco Greggio, S. & Gosset, G. 2001. Routes of discovery. French Riviera. Éditions Ouest-France, Rennes. Grimaldi, G. & Robyns, G. 1980. My book of flowers. Sidgwick & Jackson Limited, London. Kroenlein, M. Undated. Exotic garden Principauté de Monaco. Jardin Exotique, Monaco. Russell, V. 1994. Gardens of the Riviera. As cited above; see Les Cèdres. Viard, M. 2002. Le Jardin exotique de Monaco. La Maison Rustique, Flammarion, Paris. The Hanbury Garden at La Mortola, Ligurian Riviera, Italy Gastaldo, P. & Profumo, P. 1999. The Hanbury Botanic Gardens. [In the series Archives of Botanic and Garden Studies, edited by L. Aimone.] Umberto Allemandi & Co., Turin. Greggio, S. & Gosset, G. 2001. As cited above; see Jardin Exotique de Monaco. Greggio, S. & Gosset, G. 2002. As cited above; see Eze Botanical Garden. Mazzino, F. 1997. An earthly paradise. The Hanbury Gardens at La Mortola. Sagep Libri & Comunicazione Srl, Genoa. Moore, A. 2004. La Mortola. In the footsteps of Thomas Hanbury. Cadogan Guides, London.
Platt, C.A. 1993. Italian Gardens, with an overview by Keith Morgan and additional plates by Charles A. Platt. Thames & Hudson, London. Russo, L. 2001. A mission in life: Thomas Hanbury and his garden at La Mortola. Bradleya 19: 67– 74. Viard, M. 2002. As cited above. Sukkulenten-Sammlung, Zürich, Switzerland Eggli, U. & Wyss, G.S. 2012. Succulents for leisure and pleasure, education and science. The Zürich Succulent Plant Collection – 80 years in the service of succulent plant popularization. Cactus and Succulent Journal (U.S.) 84: 12–25. Supthut, D. 1981. Städtische Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich and English guide summary. Städtische Sukkulenten-Sammlung, Zürich. Zbinden, P. & Krainz, H. 1957. Städtische Sukkulenten-Sammlung. Katalog der in Kultur stehenden Arten. Gartenbauamt der Stadt Zürich, Zürich. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Arizona, USA Boyce Thompson Arboretum Trail Guide. Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum, Superior, Arizona. Carter, S. & Kamp, M. 1997. Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park. Curandero Trail. Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum, Superior. Jenkins, M.Z. 1998. National Geographic Guide to America’s public gardens: 300 of the best gardens to visit in the U.S. and Canada. The National Geographic Society, Washington DC. Moses, B. 1993. Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum. The Creative Company, Cincinnati. Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona, USA Blanc, T.A. 2000. Oasis in the city. The history of the Desert Botanical Garden. Heritage Publishers, Inc., Phoenix. Jenkins, M.Z. 1998. As cited above; see Boyce Thompson Arboretum. The Huntington Desert Garden, San Marino, California, USA Cygelman, A. & Lennard, E. 2003. Secret gardens of Hollywood and private oases in Los Angeles. Universe Publishing, New York. Dardick, K. & Levick, M. 2002. Estate gardens of California. Rizzoli, New York. Goslee Power, N. & Hales, M. 1995. The gardens of California. Thames and Hudson, London. Hertrich, W. 1940. A guide to the desert plant collection in the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino. Hertrich, W. 1988. The Huntington Botanical Gardens 1905–1949. Personal recollections of William Hertrich. The Huntington Library, San Marino. Houk, W. 1996. The botanical gardens at the Huntington. The Huntington Library, San Marino, and Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York. Kaplan, Prentice H. & Levick, M. 1990. The gardens of Southern California. Chronicle Books, San Francisco. Lyons, G. 2007. Desert plants. A curator’s introduction to the Huntington Desert Garden. The Huntington Library Press, San Marino. The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, California, USA Power, N.G. & Heeger, S. 1995. The gardens of California. Four centuries of design from mission to modern. Thames & Hudson, London. Kaplan, Prentice H. & Levick, M. 1990. As cited above. Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biologíca de la UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
Colle, M-P. 2002. Paraíso Mexicano. Gardens, landscape, and Mexican soul. Clarkson Potter Publishers, New York. García-Mendoza, A. 1998. Con sabor a maguey. Guía de la Colección Nacional de Agaváceas y Nolináceas del Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología de la UNAM. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México & Sistemas de Información Geográfica, S.A. de C.V., México, D.F. Germán, M.T. 1997. Botánica y cestería. In Artes de Mexico: Cestería. Revista Libro Número 38: 60–61. Artes de México y del Mundo, S.A. de C.V., México, D.F. Hernández Zacarías, C.C., Terrazas Arana, T. & Linares Mazari, E. 1990. Las Colecciones del Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología, UNAM. D.R. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F. Hyams, G. & Levick, M. 2005. In a Mexican garden. Courtyards, pools, and open-air living rooms. Chronicle Books, San Francisco. Martínez Limón, E. 1999. Tequila. Tradición y Destino. Revimundo, Mexico, D.F.
Index The index that appeared in the print version of this title was intentionally removed from the eBook. Please use the search function on your eReading device to search for terms of interest. For your reference, the terms that appear in the print index are listed below. Abromeitiella brevifolia Acacia xanthophloea Adansonia digitata Adenium multiflorum Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ Agavaceae Agave A. americana A. americana var. americana A. americana var. marginata A. americana var. mediopicta A. americana var. mediopicta ‘Alba’ A. americana var. variegata A. attenuata A. attenuata ‘Nova’ A. bovicornuta A. bracteosa A. celsii var. albicans A. cerulata subsp. subcerulata A. chiapensis A. chrysantha A. cocui A. ‘Cornelius’ A. cupreata A. deserti subsp. deserti A. desmettiana A. ferdinandi-regis A. filifera A. filifera subsp. schidigera A. fourcroydes A. franzosinii A. ghiesbreghtii A. isthmensis A. kerchovei A. lechuguilla A. mapisaga A. mapisaga var. mapisaga A. mitis
A. mitis var. albidior A. murpheyi A. nickelsiae A. ocahui var. longifolia A. parryi A. parryi var. huachucensis A. parryi var. parryi A. parviflora A. salmiana A. salmiana var. ferox A. salmiana var. salmiana A. scabra A. schottii var. treleasei A. sebastiana A. sisalana A. stricta A. tecta A. tequilana A. titanota A. toumeyana subsp. toumeyana A. toumeyana var. bella A. victoriae-reginae A. vilmoriniana A. weberi A. ×arizonica A. ×leopoldii agave, cow’s horn Allaudia procera Aloe A. arborescens A. aristata A. barberae A. camperi A. ciliaris A. claviflora × A. grandidentata A. commixta A. dichotoma A. ferox A. ferox × A. africana A. ferox × A. striata A. fosteri A. glauca A. grandidentata A. hardyi A. humilis A. maculata A. marlothii A. marlothii × A. peglerae A. microstigma A. mitriformis
A. pillansii A. ramosissima A. squarrosa A. striatula A. tenuior A. tidmarshii A. umfoloziensis A. vanbalenii A. vera A. wickensii var. wickensii A. ×commutata A. ×nobilis aloes bitter Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Aptenia cordifolia Arbutus unedo Armeria leucocephala subsp. pubescens Astroloba rubriflora A. smutsiana barrel cactus barrel-shaped cactus Beaucarnea recurvata bitter aloe blue palo verde bluff lettuce boojum tree botanical gardens Bougainvillea glabra Boyce Thompson Arboretum Brachychiton Brachychiton rupestris Cactaceae cacti/cactus cactus, barrel blooms columnar golden barrel invasive mother-in-law’s cushion rope totem pole Californian leaf succulent Carissa haematocarpa Carnegiea gigantea Carpobrotus edulis C. edulis subsp. edulis century plants Ceratonia siliqua
Cercidium floridum chain-fruit cholla chaparral Chapungu stone sculptures Chorisia speciosa Cleistocactus baumanii C. hylacanthus C. samaipatanus columnar cacti Columnea ×banksia Consolea picardae Cordyline australis Côte d’Azur Cotyledon orbiculata couch grass cow’s horn agave Crassula capitella C. coccinea C. multicava C. ovata C. rupestris C. sarcocaulis var. sarcocaulis Crassulaceae creosote bush cultivar cycads Cylindropuntia bigelovii C. echinocarpa C. fulgida Cynodon dactylon Cyphostemma juttae C. uter cypress trees Dasylirion glaucophyllum, see D. wheeleri D. longissimum D. wheeleri dasylirions Delosperma Denmoza rhodacantha × Cleistocactus icosagonus Desert Botanical Garden deserts landscaping desert spoon Disocactus flagelliformis Doryanthes palmeri Dracaena draco Drosanthemum speciosum Dudleya farinosa Dyckia fosteriana D. marnier-lapostollei
Echeveria E. agavoides E. gibbiflora E. pumila Echinocactus grusonii Echinocereus engelmannii Echinopsis chamaecereus E. chiloensis E. rowleyi E. schickendantzii Echium fastuosum E. wildpretii elephant’s foot yucca Encelia farinosa environmentally friendly gardening Epiphyllum ackermannii Erica arborea Espostoa spp. Eucalyptus Euphorbia E. caerulescens E. dendroides E. ingens E. milii E. milii subsp. splendens E. myrsinites subsp. myrsinites E. obesa E. tirucalli Eze Botanical Garden Ferocactus acanthodes F. cylindraceus F. cylindraceus subsp. cylindraceus F. latispinus var. latispinus F. pilosus F. recurvus F. wislizenii Fouquieria columnaris F. splendens F. splendens subsp. splendens French Riviera Furcraea martinezii F. parmentieri garden design and landscaping gardening with succulents Gasteria carinata var. verrucosa geranium, see Pelargonium Giardini Botanici Hanbury golden barrel cactus Graaff-Reinet Great Karoo Grey Lourie
‘Grün Stadt Zürich’ Hatiora salicornioides Haworthia H. cymbiformis subsp. cymbiformis H. pumila Hesperaloe funifera H. parviflora Huntington Botanical Gardens Huntington Desert Garden invasive plants Iris cf. germanica Isolatocereus dumortieri Italian Riviera Jacaranda mimosifolia Jacob’s ladder Jardín Botánico del Instituto de Biología de la UNAM Jardin Exotique de Monaco Jardins Saint-Martin Jerusalem thorn jumping cholla Kalanchoe sexangulares Kalanchoe thyrsiflora Karoo-aalwyn Karoo Desert Garden kikuyu grass Kleinia ficoides Kniphofia praecox K. rigidifolia La Mortola see also The Hanbury Garden Lampranthus aurantiacus L. cf. saturatus Larrea tridentata lavender lawns Le Jardin Exotique d’Eze, see Eze Botanical Garden Lechuguilla verde Les Cèdres Limonium perezii macchia Mammillaria carnea M. compressa subsp. compressa M. geminispina M. matudae Mediterranean climate mesembs Mexican flora Mexico City milkweeds Mojave Desert
Monaco mother-in-law’s cushion mulch, mulching Myrtillocactus geometrizans Myrtus communis naboom navelwort Neobuxbaumia polylopha Nerium oleander New York High Line noorsdoring Obesa Gardens ocotillo Olea europaea subsp. europaea olive trees Opuntia spp. O. basilaris O. ficus-indica O. fulgida see Cylindropuntia fulgida O. humifusa O. monacantha O. phaeacantha O. quitensis O. wigginsii Opuntioideae Oreocereus celsianus Pachycereus marginatus P. pringlei P. schottii P. schottii ‘Monstrosus’ Pachyphytum oviferum pachypodiums Palazzo Orengo palo verde blue Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia spp. Parodia herteri Parvisedum pumilum Pedilanthus macrocarpus P. tithymaloides subsp. smallii Pelargonium P. peltatum Pennisetum clandestinum pest control Petrosedum sediforme Pilosocereus leucocephalus Pithecellobium flexicaule plakkie Plectranthus neochilus
Poellnitzia rubriflora ponytail palm pork bush Portulaca oleracea PazazzTM P. umbraticola Portulacaria afra prickly pear Psorothamnus schottii Quercus ilex Q. suber quiver tree, see also Aloe dichotoma Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. mauritiana Ruschia pulvinaris Ruth Bancroft Garden saguaro SANBI Santa Ana winds Scadoxus puniceus Sedella pumila Sedum album S. frutescens S. nussbaumerianum S. praealtum subsp. praealtum S. sexangulare Sempervivum arachnoideum Senecio crassulaefolius S. talinoides subsp. mandraliscae Sequoia sempervirens Sequoiadendron giganteum Sierra mock stone crop skoonma-se-kussing slipper plant soil improvement sotol Southern California Spanish bayonet Spathodea campanulata spekboom Statice pubescens Stenocereus eruca S. griseus Strelitzia nicolai succulents Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich sustainable gardening teddy-bear cholla The Hanbury Garden totem pole cactus tree aloe, see also Aloe barberae
Trichocereus pasacana Tulipa greigii ‘Engadin’ T. kaufmanniana ‘Showwinner’ Tylecodon paniculatus Umbilicus rupestris UNAM, see Jardín Botánico vygies, see mesembs Weberbaurocereus spp. Worcester-Robertson Karoo xeriscape Yucca aloifolia Y. baccata Y. elephantipes Y. filifera Y. rigida Y. valida Y. whipplei yucca Zimbabwe stone sculptures Zürich