Auction-Fundraisers

To receive our periodic (usually every 4-8 weeks) emails listing new plants, sales & auction fundraisers, news from our gardens, greenhouses & travels, sign up at –
http://lists.sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/sacredsucculents

Bursera fagaroides scanned at St. Lawrence University’s Microscopy & Imagery Center, from Microcosms: A Homage to Sacred Plants of the Americas (https://www.microcosmssacredplants.org/), used with the permission of Jill Pflugheber & Steven F. White, © 2023.

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Plant Auction-Fundraiser

Second Chance:

Make up Autumnal Plant Auction-Fundraiser

– Is now Closed! –

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The make up auction closed at 6:00pm PST, October 30
Winning bids now posted

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Auction updated at 6:15 pm 10/30/24

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After it ended on 10/20, we heard from a number of long term supporters that they never received the emails announcing the start & close of the Autumn fundraiser. We are still looking into why and a remedy. We had 1/8th the usual participants, the lowest number ever — many plants were bid on by only 2 people back & forth. Some of these individuals generously suggested a second fundraiser round on these plants — a make up auction for those who missed out. We have decided to give this a go and list the relevant plants below, each starting with the final high bid of the prior auction. We’ve also posted a few alternate plants similar to those that went in the initial round.
While we don’t know if we’ll have our email list fixed by the close of this 2nd chance fundraiser,
we hope this gives time for word to reach those who missed out — so tell your friends.
Everyone is welcome to take part in the make up auction!

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After the damage we’ve sustained the last 2 winters, and extreme heat spikes in summer taking a toll, these auctions are a big help in raising the support the nursery so vitally needs to continue — know that your auction purchases directly fund these much needed nursery repairs, essential renovations, ongoing irrigation installation [after 20 years of hand-watering, we can no longer keep up — we’ve lost over 25% of our rare & endangered plant collection in the last 5 years due to the climatic shift towards hotter & drier], equipment repair & replacement [for instance, the refrigerator we use exclusively for our seed bank died during the worst summer heat], as well as our continual research & conservation work.
We are deeply grateful for your love of plants and support of our work!

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About the Auction-Fundraiser:

The main bidding process is the same as last auction.
With this auction what you bid is exactly what you will pay if you have the winning high bid when the auction ends. [This differs from our early auctions where the high bid was hidden and determined to be just $1 over the previous bidders high bid.]
An example for the current auction: If the current bid on a plant is $35, and you bid $50, the high bid price is then moved to $50 (NOT $36 like our earliest auctions) and the next bidder has to bid over that ($51 or more) — if you have the highest bid when the auction closes, then you win that plant and your high bid is exactly what you pay (plus shipping).

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A change to the end of the auction—a new “soft close”:

To make the process more fair, we are implementing a trial “soft close” at the end of this auction. This will allow a chance for participants to make a final bid offer on a popular plant even after the “close”. If this goes well, future auctions will end in this manner.
How it works: For any plant bid on in the final minutes of the auction, we will email the bidders shortly after the 6pm close and give them the opportunity to make 1 final bid on the plant within a given amount of time [5–10 minutes, depending on the circumstance] — the highest bid wins the plant.
For plants only bid on earlier in the auction, there is no “soft close” and the win goes to the person with the highest bid at the 6pm close.

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**To place a bid- ( please read fully before bidding! )**

Email us ( benkamm@monitor.net ) with “SS auction” in the subject header.
In the body of the email list –
1) The name of each plant you are bidding on with the amount you are bidding next to the name (must be equal to or greater than the “minimum starting bid” or current “high bid”).
2) Your full name and complete shipping address.

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Placing a bid is binding, so please do not bid unless you are committed to buying!
Again please do not bid if you are not 100% committed and do not bid beyond your means.

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We honor the email bids as first come first serve, so if we don’t respond right away—do not worry, we will honor your bid in the order/time it was received!
The make up auction will be updated at least twice a day by 11 am and 6 pm, much more often the final day.
Towards the end of the auction can get hectic and we may not be able to notify you in a timely manner if you’ve been outbid during this last phase – we recommend checking the website periodically to see the updated current high bids and respond accordingly.
The make up auction closes at 6:00 pm PST, Wednesday, October 30. The winning bids should all be posted on the website that night, no later than 7:30 pm PST. You will be contacted by email that evening or the following morning for the auction plants you have won. Our regular shipping costs apply. Placing a bid is binding, so please do not bid unless you are committed to buying! We request payment (cash, check, or money order) be mailed promptly on Thursday, October 31. Your plants will be shipped after payment is received.

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This is your only chance to obtain many of these plants – some will not be available again!
For other unique offerings see our SPECIMEN PLANT LIST

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Make Up Auction Plants

[We only ship to US addresses!]

Cactaceae

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Echinopsis eyreisii X Trichocereus terscheckii

This awe-inspiring hybrid has been one of the most asked after plants in our collection for years. A matching of opposites—the dwarf, clumping Echinopsis eyreisii fertilized by the gargantuan Trichocereus terscheckii. The progeny look like a robust T. terscheckii with a few extra ribs on massively thick stems to 12″+, closely spaced, large furry areoles, short, stout spines, and white/pink funnel flowers with very furry tubes. In fact, the plant looks similar to the the nearly spineless new growth we’ve seen on large T. terscheckii in habitat once they grow beyond the reach of possible herbivores. One of our early hybrids, germinated back in 1998. Only 3 seedlings of this cross survived (and 2 of the opposite). The plants have been very slow growing for us, after 26 years they are only 4′ tall. We had expected this hybrid to pup readily like its mother, but after 2 decades we became impatient and cut the top from one [clone A]. This has forced pupping and we offer a fat cutting here for only the fourth time ever. Become one of the lucky few to grow this awesome botanical wonder; impress your friends & neighbors… make covetous collectors drool! Z8a/b
6″+ tall, 6.5″+ diameter cutting – 5 bids $240*

↑ Auction plant ↑↑ Echinopsis eyreisii X Trichocereus terscheckii in bloom ↑↑ An example of the father species, Trichocereus terscheckii, in south Salta, Argentina ↑

Oroya borchersii BK09511.5 “Andean Golden Barrel”

A cold hardy and dazzlingly radiant golden-barrel type cactus to 12″+ in diameter. 1/2–1″ curved golden spines cover the spherical body of the plant. Luminous yellow flowers. Usually solitary, but sometimes clustering. Endemic to the upper Cordillera Negra of Ancash Dept., central Peru, where it can be found in open puna grasslands, rock outcrops and Puya raimondii habitat, from 12–15,000’+. Our seed accession from 13,200′, where low mounds of Ephedra aff. rupestris BK09511.2 [available last auction, see Succulents↓] acted as its nurse plant it. Growing with bunch grasses, Senecio spp., a Matucana species, and Austrocylindropuntia floccosa. The whole region is grazed by dairy cattle, while the cows don’t eat the cactus, we saw some sign of damage from their hoofs. We also heard that locals may remove the plants to make grazing easier or out of concern the cows will injure themselves on the spines. Protection through cultivation is encouraged. Easily grown at low altitude, one of the few species that has done well through a decade of our most severe NorCal summer heat and cold, wet winters. We offer you the very last of our seed grown plants, long underpotted and ready to take off in a new container or rock garden. This brilliant, hardy cactus is practically unknown in captivity and worthy of wide cultivation. Z7/8?
2″+ plant 10+ years old – 2 bids $35

↑ Auction plant ↑ ↑ Oroya borchersii BK09511.5 in habitat, Cordillera Negra, Peru ↑↑ Oroya borchersii habitat, Cordillera Negra, Peru ↑↑ Oroya borchersii growing at the base of Puya raimondii, over 15,000′ ↑

Tephrocactus geometricus MB1

Opuntia relative with mostly spineless, gray to purplish spherical stems to 1–3″+, stacked like a pile of diminutive soccer balls. Very large and showy pink flowers. This is clone has sparse, small beige spines. Native to arid, rocky Catamarca, Argentina. Straightforward to care for—we use a soil mix with at least 50% pumice/perlite, likes a bright spot, regular water & nutrients during the warm season and a dry winter rest. Tolerates freezing if kept dry. There is something undeniably delightful about the spherical form of this species; inspires covetous feelings in many who behold it—said to be one of the most desirable cacti! Z8a/b
2.5″+ plant with 3 stems – 2 bids $44

↑ Tephrocactus geometricus MB1 auction plant ↑

Trichocereus bridgesii BK08608.3 cl. A “Achuma” “Bolivian San Pedro”

One of our rarely offered, but highly valued accessions of the famed Bolivian San Pedro. Seed from broad stands to 12′ + tall, 3.5–4″+ diameter blue-green stems, spined to nearly spineless—very similar to SS02 in appearance. These were a “normal” form growing among bizarre, monstrose plants that appeared mutated due to a mealy-bug infestation. Occurring with Tillandsia, Austrocylindropuntia, Baccharis, and Dunalia species. These remnant populations were observed in 2008, north-east of La Paz city at well over 12,000′, and may now be lost to the encroaching development—at the time we saw signs people had been destroying it, there were large heaps where the cactus had been cut and discarded with trash. Our artist friend, Efrain Ortuno, claimed it was at this locale that a potent population of “rose-red flowered Achuma” occurred…and he showed us his painting to “prove” it! None of our plants have bloomed yet, so we can neither dismiss or confirm his assertion; for now, we can only dream that such a unique trait would show up in our seed grown offspring! So far, the progeny are a bit spinier than the “wild” parents. Cutting from one of our seed grown plants, selected for its attractive spination and hardiness—the mother has endured full exposure through many harsh seasons unscathed. Our distribution of this clone has been minimal and it’s been some years since we offered this mysterious, endangered accession at all. Little known in cultivation, one of the many unique San Pedro we’ve largely kept for our own studies. Certainly a “must have” for the serious collector! Z8b/9a
14″ cutting – 3 bids $99*

↑ Auction plant ↑↑ Mother Trichocereus bridgesii BK08608.3, NE of La Paz City, Bolivia, above 12,000′ ↑↑ Evidence of of destruction in 2008 ↑↑ Efrain Ortuno’s painting of a mutated T. bridgesii with a rose flower from the locale ↑↑ Mutation caused by mealy bugs?, same locale NE of La Paz City, Bolivia ↑

Trichocereus pachanoi X Trichocereus sp. ‘Juul’s Giant’ – f. variegata “Variegated San Pedro”

A beautiful heirloom selection from our late 90s hybrids, variegated with mottled shades of pale to dark yellow and light to dark green, blushing blue. The progeny of this hybrid range from the short spined you’d expect to plants with 1″+ long spines. One of the short spined seedlings came up variegated in 1998 and as the plant matured the yellow/green variegation would ebb and flow. A few years ago we finally began propagating the variegated branches. Only offered a handful of times before, take home a living part of history! This cutting currently has visible variegation on 3 of the 6 ribs — most heavily on one rib with some mottled splotches on the other two; more variegation will show up as it grows. A make up auction alternate plant. Z9a
7.5″ cutting – 1 bid – $65

↑ Auction plant ↑

Trichocereus tulhuayacensis KK337 X T. peruvianus/‘Juul’s Giant’ hybrid f. monstrosus

Here’s a chance at a choice and singular monstrose seedling of this exciting new hybrid. The spiny magenta flowered tulhuayacensis impregnated by our large blue-green peruvianus/Juul’s mutant that produces huge white flowers with extra petals. The monstrose/cristate genes, colored & mutant flowers, and exceptional spines will combine in unexpected and novel ways—some of the progeny, such as this many ribbed selection, are already showing very unique mutant traits and we can’t wait to see how magnificently they mature! We’re envisioning thick brain-coral growth with stout, red to black spines and unfurling fans of huge purplish blossoms! Whatever maturation brings, this is certain to become a one-of-a-kind living sculpture. A make up auction alternate plant. This seedling stands out from its kin in having the longest spines of any of the mutants so far. Z8b/9a
3″+ tall, 2″+ diameter plant, 3+ years old – 4 bids $60

↑ Auction plant ↑↑ Mutant seedlings of this super hybrid ↑
↑ Auction plant rear—second from left [the rest sold or not for sale] ↑↑ Mother: Trichocereus tulhuayacensis KK337 ↑ ↑ Father: T. peruvianus/’Juul’s Giant’ mutant ↑↑ Kin of the auction plant, mostly non-mutant seedlings of this super hybrid ↑
↑ See the Specimen List ↑

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Other Succulents & Xerophytes

Boswellia nana “Dwarf Frankincense”

Burseraceae. Prostrate caudiciform subshrub to only 1–2′ tall. Simple dark green leaves with wavy margins, densely arranged along the stems and drought deciduous. New growth is red to bronze. Small pink flowers. Endemic to limestone cliffs, Socotra. Rich in aromatic balsamy oils. This amazing little species is the ultimate xerophytic bonsai and a real joy to behold. Needs bright light, well draining soil, heat and some humidity to thrive, along with a dry winter rest. Does fine in a sunny window with just a little extra care. We offer here a charming seedling first beginning to branch. Just starting to shed leaves for winter dormancy; shipped potted. Every succulent collection should include this regal dwarf frankincense! A make up auction alternate plant. Z10a/b
3″+ plant 2 years old – 3 bids $75

↑ Auction plant ↑↑ Boswellia nana, mature mother plant ↑↑ Boswellia nana, mature mother plant details ↑↑ Boswellia nana mother plant in bloom ↑

Bursera fagaroides “Copal”

Burseraceae. A gorgeous bonsai specimen of this wonderful xerophytic Copal tree. Thick swollen trunks and limbs with smooth golden to silvery bark that exfoliates in thin papery sheets. Deciduous pinnate leaves, tiny flowers followed by purple green berries. Occurs throughout the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of Mexico. The sap is the most common source of Copal, burned as an incense and “food for the gods”, highly aromatic with a sweet citrus-balsam scent. The trees are dormant the cooler months of the year, leafing out only with the onset of hot weather. Defoliates in autumn with an attractive display as the leaves change to yellow, orange and red. This bonsai has a sublimely bulbous caudiciform trunk that is 3″+ tall and 2″ diameter; the tree itself has been trained to reach no more than about 12″ tall with a 48″ canopy spread that could be tidied up a bit depending on your esthetic sense. A one of a kind specimen! Beginning to defoliate for winter. Really, this beauty is the perfect low-maintenance bonsai, easily grown, extremely tolerant of drying out (we only water it half the year) and general neglect. With a little select pruning and time this is sure to become the centerpiece of any collection. Z10a
12″ tall, 48″ wide, bonsai specimen, 12+ years old – 2 bids $127**

↑ Bursera fagaroides bonsai auction plant, branch spread and caudex from each side ↑↑ Example of 40+ year old Bursera fagaroides bonsai ↑
↑ Example of 40+ year old Bursera fagaroides bonsai ↑

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Andean Ethnobotanicals

Fern BK14510.3

A highly endearing, small, clumping to slowly creeping fern with erect, slender linear leaves 4–6″+ high, occasionally branching at the ends with an antler-like look. The leaves are dark green with a lime green central furrow and white speckles, the back sides covered in rust-orange sporangia. Growing with Berberis sp. and Gentianella rima, Eucalyptus understory, on the trail to the remnant Polylepis groves of Chakan, above Cusco City, Peru, about 12,000′. Identification eludes us, possibly a Microgramma species… Over the last 6 years we’ve only released a handful of this irrefutably delightful plant. It has proven quite hardy and easy to grow, tolerating shade and sun, cold and heat, and even some drying out. A favorite of all who’ve been lucky enough to grow it! Z8?
6″ plant 8+ years old – 3 bids $50

↑ Auction plant ↑↑ Fern BK14510.3 in habitat, Cusco, Peru ↑

Macleania glabra X Macleania? “Neotropical Huckleberry Hybrid”

Ericaceae. A magnificent caudiciform specimen of this hybrid neotropical blueberry, seed grown from open pollinated fruit thanks to our native hummingbirds. The father was one of our Andean or Central American species; the mother, M. glabra, is a rare semi-epiphyte from the cloudforests of Costa Rica with bloated lignotubers to 3′ across, arching stems with green to bluish leaves, clusters of pale rose to magenta flowers, and edible purple-black berries. This one-of-a-kind specimen has a shapely swollen caudex, arching branches and foliage similar to mom with pinkish to gold-green new growth. The flowers are a rose color, but with slightly flared pale pink tips and corollas that are a bit longer than any other Macleania we grow! We’ve kept this superb specimen in our personal collection until now, but alas, we can’t hoard all the best plants… so have decided to release this coveted beauty for others to delight in. Grow like other semi-epiphytic blueberries—quite easy with well draining acidic soil and filtered light; would do well in a hanging basket. Several genera of neotropical blueberries are traditionally used in love charms & aphrodisiacs, we can’t help but feel this plant would fit right in with the sensual rondure of the caudex, the graceful arch of the branches, the soft pubescent blush of the new growth, the enticing blossoms that arouse the passion of hummingbirds near and far… Enthralling! Z9b?
26″+ tall, 30″+ wide, multi-stemmed plant with 5″ by 3″+ caudex, 8–9 years old – 2 bids $148**

↑ Auction plant ↑ ↑ Auction plant caudex ↑↑ Auction plant new growth ↑
↑ Blossoms of auction plant, the longest corolla of any Macleania we grow ↑↑ The large, juicy berries of the Macleania glabra mother plant ↑

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Other Beneficial Plants

Agapetes serpens ‘Bhutan’ “Himalayan Huckleberry”

Ericaceae. A new, large flowered clone of this amazing caudiciform huckleberry. Semi-epiphytic evergreen shrub to 5’+, highly floriferous—a banquet for hummingbirds. Has long and graceful arching branches arising from a globular woody caudex. Compared to the other A. serpens we grow, the leaves of this clone are a bit more densely arranged on the stem, the flowers a deeper red, notably larger and with pronounced recurved tips. In fact, these unique flowers are the biggest of any A. serpens we’ve seen. Purple edible berries, deliciously juicy and delightfully chewy. Originally grown from seed wildcrafted in the cloudforests of Bhutan. Quite easy to care for, prefers part shade, well draining acid soil and regular moisture, yet is surprisingly tolerant of sun and dry periods once the caudex develops. Fruits best when cross pollinated with a separate clone or species. Rooted cutting already beginning to form a little caudex. First time we’ve offered this sumptuous clone. See towards the end of our Specimen Plant List for other Agapetes species. Z8b?
8″+ branched plant – 3 bids $55

↑ Agapetes serpens ‘Bhutan’ auction plant ↑↑ Unique flowers of Agapetes serpens ‘Bhutan’ ↑↑ Agapetes serpens berries ↑↑ Diverse flowers of Agapetes serpens clones, L to R: common clone, Ruby, SS16B, SS16A, Bhutan [auction plant] ↑
↑ Example of old Agapetes serpens caudex ↑

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The make up auction closed at 6:00pm PST, Wednesday, October 30

~ End of Make Up Auction List ~

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Shipping and Handling for Auction Plants

First Class Priority Mail = $10.00 for the first plant $2 each additional plant.
Express mail = Inquire for current costs
*Plants marked with a single asterisk* are large, heavy & have special shipping charges =
$18.00 for the first plant, $2 each additional plant.
**Plants marked with double asterisk** are extra large and/or heavy. We charge you the USPS postage cost plus a $6 handling fee on the total order. Please note: Shipping costs for these will be significant for folks in eastern states (for example a 36″ Trichocereus sent to the East Coast would be around $45-70+ shipping but less than half that for the West Coast). You may inquire the approximate shipping cost by emailing us your zipcode.

California residents add 7.25% sales tax. Sonoma county residents 8%.

Order Form

Sacred Succulents, P.O. Box 781, Sebastopol, CA 95473 USA

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↓ The first Autumn Fundraiser that ended 10/20 is listed below ↓

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↑ View from the Cordillera Negra at 15,000′ — the Rio Santa Valley & Cordillera Blanca, Ancash, Peru ↑

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