Cactus Dish Garden Boxes

Dwarf Century Plant

• Some varieties of the dwarf century plant (Agave pumila) will make themselves at home in a dish or box garden because of their slow growth rate. Many container gardeners search for the perfect specimen of this cactus in terms of form and structure. Recommended smaller species include A. verschaffeltii, with a deep-blue color and a tight rosette form. The Agave univittata stands out with its glossy green leaves with a yellow stripe. This cactus sends out long runners that sprout baby rosettes on the ends. The A. verschaffeltii v. minima Shoji-raijan is a small cactus with blue leaves and a clustering manner. Some of the A. victoriae-reginae and A. striata are also recommended for the dish garden. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 10.

Barrel Cactus

• The golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) is known for its golden-yellow spines that shine in the sun. This Mexican native will grow very slowly, making the miniature a dish or box garden favorite. The cactus will bloom from late spring through early summer and sport yellow blossoms. The cactus thrives in full sun. Water the cactus thoroughly in the box and let it dry out between watering. If you want to keep the dish garden outside, this cactus is hardy in USDA Zones 9 through 12.

Peanut Cactus

• The peanut cactus (Echinopsis chamaecereus) grows to 4 inches tall, making it a great complement to a dish or box garden. The cylindrical shape is ribbed and produces bright orange-red flowers. It reblooms often during warm months if it has good light. It is native to South America and is easy to grow in full sun. It is hardy in USDA zones 10 through 11.

Tom Thumb Cactus

• Like the character in the English folk tale, the Tom Thumb cactus (Parodia aureispina) is miniature, although slightly bigger than a human thumb. It can develop up to seven yellow flowers that open at the same time during early summer. They only remain open for about three days. This tube cactus is bristly with white-yellow spines. This easy-to-grow plant will need regular water in summer when planted in a cactus box garden. It is hardy to 32 degrees F.