Passalong plant from Rancho Reubidoux

March 03, 2015


The mailman delivered a much-anticipated package yesterday. What is this, a big green pickle? A freakishly large chrysalis?


Oh, it’s better than that! This prickly baby is a piece of a sky-blue Pilosocereus pachycladus (syn. P. azureus) from Reuben Muñoz’s garden in Riverside, CA, near Los Angeles. Reuben, the recycling artist behind the fabulous blog Rancho Reubidoux, generously offered to share a piece when I gushed over his mama plant, which was studded with goth-black blossoms and ghostly, ivory-and-mauve flowers (click the link to see photos, #2-4 from top).

I can’t wait to pot this baby up and get it outside to soak up some sun — if we ever get sunshine again. Did I actually utter those words? I’m not ready for the Death Star to return, but, geez, I miss the blue skies and 60-degree temps of a normal Austin winter. Not to mention it’s March. Where’s spring?

Until the sunshine returns, little Pilo is lounging in a bright window. There’s good owl watching there. Thanks so much, Reuben!

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All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

23 responses to “Passalong plant from Rancho Reubidoux”

  1. Peter/Outlaw says:

    What a cool plant and a generous blogger! I hope you’re happy together for years to come!

  2. Oh yeah, that’s a unique plant — what a show it puts on. Can’t wait to see what it does in your garden.

  3. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    What a fantastic plant. Will it overwinter in your area? Will it be a potted plant or in the ground? It is always exciting to get a passalong.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I’ll have to keep it in a pot. Online sources indicate it doesn’t like temps below 40F, and it definitely doesn’t like freezes. —Pam

  4. Jenny says:

    Oh Pam! You lucky girl. When this plant blooms it will be spectacular. I saw them at the Wallace Garden in Scottsdale. But it will have to share that window with Pilo in the winter.

  5. Miss Bee says:

    What a kind gesture. It’s so few people who do a good deed and don’t expect anything in return.

  6. Drool. Can’t wait to see how you highlight its charms.

  7. I just discovered Reuben’s blog and have many enjoyable posts still ahead of me. Yeah!!

    I can send you some sunshine in exchange for some rain, if you have any!

  8. Debi Deason says:

    I tried to vote for you and you don’t show up on the Gardening category now! I have voted for you a couple of times before, but they changed the format and maybe you got dropped off? Please let me know when it’s fixed!

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I just checked the BHG contest page, and I’m not having any problems, Debi. Digging is listed first (upper left) on the Gardening page. I’m using Google Chrome browser. Maybe that makes a difference? Thanks so much for trying! —Pam

  9. What a nice guy Rueben is, I’ve got an agave he sent me years ago. Sunny here, might hit 70 this weekend. Maybe time to reconsider moving to Portland?…

    • Pam/Digging says:

      If you start having beautiful winters as well as beautiful summers, I might consider it! Seriously though, I’m glad you’re enjoying some nice weather. I bet your agaves are happy! —Pam

  10. Katherine says:

    Very neat! How exciting!! I hadn’t seen one like that before.

  11. Luisa says:

    Pam, I visited the Rancho the day after Reuben put your cactus in the mail — there were a couple pieces left over, and I got one! Reuben is super nice, and the mother plant is GORGEOUS.