How to Grow and Care for Hechtia

Guapilla (Hechtia glomerata) stands out because of its fleshy leaves, which are covered in sharp spikes. It is sometimes grown ornamentally and thrives in rock-gardens and dry locations similar to its natural habitat. This plant attracts insects to its flowers, and birds and small mammals to its seeds.

Texas false agave (Hechtia texensis) is found in a small region of desert in Mexico and in Texas in the U.S. It is technically an evergreen plant, though the term seems ironic given how red the branches often appear. It grows in rocky and sandy soil and hot, sunny weather. If cultivated as a garden plant, texas false agave can be treated as a cactus.

Hechtia edulis is a striking, succulent native to rocky terrains, characterized by its rosette of thick, spiny-edged leaves that taper to sharp points. Drought-adapted, the leaves conserve water, reflective of its arid homeland. When flowering, hechtia edulis sends up tall spikes with clusters of tubular flowers, attracting pollinators and speaking to the plant’s resilience and rough-hewn beauty.

Hechtia stenopetala is a rosette-forming succulent known for its long, narrow, and toothed green leaves. Adaptable to arid conditions, its sturdy leaves conserve water, enabling survival in harsh environments. The plant's unique inflorescences rise above the foliage, displaying narrow petals that attract pollinators, critical for its propagation in rocky and barren landscapes.

Hechtia myriantha is a striking bromeliad characterized by its rosette of stiff, narrow leaves. The leaves have a silver-green color and a tough, toothed edge that helps defend against herbivores and reduce evaporation in its arid habitat. Small white flowers emerge, contrasting against the foliage, and play a part in the plant's adaptation to attract pollinators in its challenging environment.