3/27/23 We are only shipping retail orders intermittently this year as we continue to take time out to complete essential renovations, reconfigure aspects of our operation (to protect the long term viability of Sacred Succulents in light of our erratically changing climate), and ultimately return to the level of customer service that we have historically offered. So here is the new shipping schedule* for the year:
2022/23 Shipping Schedule* for Retail Catalog Orders
(see the top of our homepage for catalog PDFs)
Autumn/Winter 2022 & Spring 2023: All retail orders postmarked between autumn 2022 and April 10, 2023 will commence shipping April 15 in the order they are received.
Spring & Summer 2023: Retail orders postmarked after April 10 will begin shipping in the order received on June 19. The full summer schedule to be announced.
Autumn & Winter: Schedule to be announced.
*The exception to this limited shipping schedule for the year is: books, Specimen List Plants and Auction Plants—these orders we will continue to ship throughout the year as they are received.
We encourage that all orders be emailed as inquiries before payment is sent— (sacredsucculents@hushmail.com or benkamm@monitor.net )
I can then confirm stock and give the estimated ship time for your order.
Due to large volumes of email (and steady stream of calamities!), it often takes me a few days to respond.
To Place an Order:
Yes, we are terribly old fashioned and do not take online payment.
We know it may be a stretch for some of you in this age of one click shopping, but to place an order you must do the following:
Print and fill out an order form, or write your order out on a sheet of paper, clearly listing botanical name variety, and any collection numbers, and mail with full payment
(check, money order or cash, no credit cards) to:
Sacred Succulents, P.O. Box 781, Sebastopol, CA 95473 USA
We do not have a retail store set up for on site shopping, but you can arrange to pick up an order from our physical location in Occidental, CA
Email us your order and we can arrange a time for you to pick up (usually at least 2-3 days ahead) sacredsucculents@hushmail.com
For seed orders outside the USA:
We take international money orders made out in USD$, or USD cash (or the equivalent in Euros or British Pounds) sent registered mail to our PO Box.
We also accept Western Union or a bank transfer (a $15 fee for this one)- Email us your order if this is your preference- sacredsucculents@hushmail.com
Please note: We do not have a mobile device and often only check our emails in the morning Monday through Friday,
so if you don’t get an immediate response from us–do not fret! We will get back to you even if it takes a few days.
A bit about us:
A small family operation, we are involved with the conservation of a perpetually increasing diversity of plants from many terrains at our biosanctuary here in northern California. Much of the focus of our web catalog is on xerophytes such as cacti and other succulents, along with rare medicinals, edibles and unusual endemics. The intriguing variety of shapes and forms, the sacred geometries these evolutionary wonders express never ceases to amaze us. Many of the plants listed herein are seriously endangered in their natural habitats. We offer them to you in the hopes of the preservation of these species. We hold the vision that the destructive ways of our species (Homo sapiens) may shift to a way of nurturing so that these plants may be utilized to repopulate what is left of the habitats in which their ancestors once evolved and that new suitable habitats will be established around the world. Next to habitat preservation, widespread dispersal of plants along with propagation on an individual level is one of the most viable means of helping protect wild populations while assuring the evolutionary expansion of these botanical wonders. We feel that involvement in such endeavors is intrisic to human reciprocity with nature. Over the years we have learned of the special relationships various cultures have with these plants. Medicine, food, magic/religion and utility; through the myriad human relations with plants we have come to understand more completely why they are revered and considered sacred. We offer ethnobotanical information in our listing to help further this understanding, rekindle human–plant relations, provide leads to promising plants for competent researchers, and for historical curiosity. We make no claims as to the accuracy of this information. It is compiled from many sources, some of which may be unfounded. This website is not a guide to usage; edible, medicinal, or otherwise. We sell all plants and seeds strictly for growing purposes. Placing an order commits to an understanding and agreement to these terms. We do not sell wild collected plants. We do support and encourage the ethical wildcrafting of seed. To assure distribution of the highest levels of genetic diversity the majority of our plants are grown from seed. Questions, comments and correspondence is always welcome.
As a small family run business, your support is vital and goes a long way.
Thank you and enjoy!
Ben, Melissa, Shannon, Ember & Kieralia
Plant Guarantee
We channel much time and life energy into growing our plants. We guarantee safe arrival of clean, healthy, correctly labeled specimens. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with the plants you receive, please notify us immediately and return them within 10 days for replacement, credit or refund. Beyond arrival, we cannot guarantee how plants will grow and survive in your conditions, so be prepared to receive them. It is up to you to provide adequate growing conditions and care for your plants. Plants ordered during Winter cannot be guaranteed, so please give thought to your weather when ordering during the cold season.
Plant labels: In an ongoing effort to minimize our use and handling of plastic, we are no longer supplying plastic plant labels for every plant with our orders. The plants now come with biodegradable wooden labels. Depending on your growing conditions, these labels will only last 3-12 months, and should therefore be considered temporary. Upon request we can send plastic labels with the plants, but you need to ask. For long term labeling we suggest impressible copper labels, these can be ordered from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply (www.groworganic.com) or other online vendors. Thank you for your support and understanding!
Seeds
Unless noted otherwise, seed packets contain 15-40+ seeds, often much more (with very tiny seed like Campanula, Nicotiana, etc the seed count is in the hundreds). Seeds are guaranteed to arrive correctly labeled and in good condition. However, we offer no warranty when it comes to germination. Some of the seeds we offer are difficult and require specific conditions to germinate. The responsibility is in your hands to provide these correct conditions. The majority of the cactus seed is freshly harvested from our stock plants and should have excellent germination. Treating seed with gibberellic acid (see resources at back) is found to increase germination in some species and is worth experimenting with. We have also found that treating seeds with EM™ (Effective Microorganisms, see resources) sometimes improves germination rates.
*Note on cold treatment for seed: Some of the seeds on this list need a period of moist and cold before they will germinate. The simplest method is to sow the seeds in pots outdoors in Fall or Winter, the seeds will sprout with the Spring or Summer warmth. Another method is to place the seeds in a moistened sterile media in a plastic bag and refrigerate for the specified time, then sow and gradually warm to sprout.
Please keep track of the collection numbers some seeds and plants come with, this allows them to be traced to their geographical location in habitat. Well documented collections help in conserving genetic diversity, especially of rare and endangered species.
Plant seeds. Plant lots of seeds. Plant them without fear. Plant them with love.
Ordering Information
We do not ship plants outside the U.S., but seed orders are welcome. We ship year round. Plants are sent bare root unless requested otherwise. If you would like your plants shipped potted add $1.00 extra per plant ordered (Trichocereus over 5″ are only sent bareroot). We try to process and ship your order within a week of receiving it. If you do not receive your order within 4-6 weeks of sending it, please drop us a line – USPS is not infallible. Being a small nursery, most plants are available in limited quantities, so please list substitutes and your preference of credit or a refund in case a particular species has sold out. Let us know if you are looking for a particular plant not listed in the catalog. We have many species in quantities too small to list here. We also have wholesale quantities of much of the seed we offer, please inquire. We are always open to trade. Please inquire.
We offer ethnobotanical information in our listing to help further understanding of these plants, rekindle human-plant relations, provide leads to promising plants for competent researchers, and for historical curiosity. We make no claims as to the accuracy of this information. It is compiled from many sources, some of which may be unfounded. This listing is not a guide to usage; edible, medicinal, or otherwise. We sell all plants and seeds strictly for growing purposes. Placing an order commits to an agreement to these terms.
We do our best to make use of as much recycled packaging material as possible. After you receive your order, we encourage you to do the same!
Public Domain Pledge
An important terms of business note to all our customers:
In order to be in line with our mission to support the preservation of botanical biodiversity, and following the lead of J.L. Hudson Seeds, all of our seed and plant offerings are now Public Domain. This means that all plants and seeds are supplied solely under the following conditions: We expressly prohibit the use of any seeds or plants supplied by us, or their progeny, in any form of genetic engineering, breeding, or research which will result in any form of life patent, variety protection, trademarks, breeder’s rights or any form of intellectual property applied to living things which would compromise the Public Domain status of the seeds, plants, their progeny and any genetic material therein. We expressly prohibit the transfer to any third party of any seeds, plants, their progeny or any portion of their genetic material without these prohibitions in place. Commercial propagation is encouraged, but in the unlikely event that large-scale commercial distribution is achieved, benefit-sharing along the path towards the source, in accordance with the spirit of the International Convention on Biological Diversity, will be undertaken. Thank you for your understanding and support!
We believe the biological diversity of the world is a common inheritance shared by all and the right to having a personal individual relationship
with the myriad life forms of the planet is intrinsic to that. It is the very fibers that weave us.
Shipping and Handling
Seeds – First class mail USA $4.00
Air mail international $10.00 (Canada, Central & South America)
Rest of the World: Email for current international rates
Plants (USA only) – 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 and 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 actual USPS postage cost plus an $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 $40+ shipping but less than half that for the West Coast). You may inquire the approximate shipping cost by emailing us your zipcode.
***Plants available for pick up-by appointment – at our home in Occidental. Please email to reserve plants and arrange pick up.
For those further away, we will consider shipping, but the plants will need to be cut into smaller sizes- email for shipping quotes.
Seeds ride free when ordered with plants.
Checks may take several weeks to clear; use money orders or cash for quicker service.
Sorry, no credit cards, paypal or other online payments.
Foreign orders send USD$ cash, Western Union or bank transfer.
California residents add 7.25% sales tax. Sonoma county residents 8%.
Questions and inquiries can be directed to us through our e-mail address- sacredsucculents@hushmail.com
Please note: We do not have a mobile device and often only check our emails in the morning Monday through Friday,
so if you don’t get an immediate response from us–do not fret! We will get back to you.
Please print and fill out an order form or write your order out on a sheet of paper, clearly listing botanical names with any collection numbers and mail with full payment to:
Sacred Succulents, P.o. box 781, Sebastopol, CA 95473 USA
sacredsucculents@hushmail.com