Exploring Oaxacan Flora

In fall of 2019, horticulturists Nick Daniel and Dan Johnson spent a month exploring the extremely rich flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. They encountered nearly every life zone present in Oaxaca, from sea level to over 10,000 feet. The plants and the scenery were well beyond expectation: agaves the size of cars growing with palm trees and bromeliads, and gigantic candelabra cacti standing high above dry arroyos and rocky hillsides.

Over the course of their 2,000 plus miles driven, they gained new appreciation for the cacti and succulents of Mexico that Nick oversees as part of the Cactus and Succulent Collection. Seeing these plants in habitat really helped in understanding the bigger picture when cultivating plants ex situ. Beyond the amazing flora was the amazing food and culture. They anxiously await a return trip to Oaxaca for further exploration.

They would like to acknowledge volunteer extraordinaire, John Andersen, for generously donating funding to the trip, as well as the Cactus and Succulent Society of Colorado for their donation to make the trip happen.