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Here on 'Eckhard Meier's Epi Cacti Hybridizing Page' you will see many of the amazing hybrids Eckhard has created, along with each hybrids cross information and links to there full E.S.A.-(Epiphyllum Society of America) registered descriptions. Read about Eckhards goals in hybridizing Epi Cacti and how or why Eckhard chose to name many of his hybrids as he did. Access links to several cacti groups and clubs that Eckhard would like to share with you. See pictures of many captivating blooms used as parent crosses to create his hybrids. See pictures of interesting people and places, 3d tours of places Eckhard has lived and allot more!
NOTE; (simply click any hybrid pictured-hyper linked on this page for its full description, more info. and additional pictures. No worries as there is a return hyperlink on each hybrids info. page towards the bottom of each hybrids description to bring you back to this page once your ready to return.)
Eckhard has met many life-long friends in the coarse of enjoying his passion for growing cacti. Many of these friends he first met by participating in several cacti clubs and groups, several of his hybrids are also named after a few of them he has a special admiration for. He would like to share several links to these cacti clubs and groups. Eckhard himself has been a member of several groups with in Europe and in the U.S.A. He hopes that the resources provided here will not only further cacti cultivation, but also help others find cacti groups where you too can share both his passion for growing cacti and for hybridizing them.
Several pictures of people Eckhard has met in his cacti travels are also pictured on this page. Should you decide to join any of these Cacti groups not only will you be able to gain many resources for growing cacti, but you might even make some new friends who happen to grow Cacti too!
NOTE; (simply click any hybrid pictured-hyper linked on this page for its full description, more info. and pictures. No worries as there is a return hyperlink on each hybrids info. page towards the bottom of each hybrids page to bring you back to this one once your ready to return.)
Eckhard would also like to share with you his Epi Cacti hybridizing goals and philosophy. More in depth information on several of his hybrids. Pictures of his greenhouses and scenery of the town and general area were he produced most of his amazing hybrids in Simmern, Germany. The town of Simmern is surrounded by the beautiful Hunsrück mountains, hence the name 'Hunsrück' being used by Eckhard as the first name in several of his Epiphyllum hybrids registered with the E.S.A. Eckhard currently lives in the town of Diez,Germany. Both the towns of Simmern and Diez have a medieval background and are also pictured on this page for your enjoyment.
Eckhard began by hybridizing in Epiphyllum X Epiphyllum crosses but soon discovered that many were very similar to others already hybridized, so he decided to use related jungle cacti genera in the hopes of getting something much different to what had already been done. Many of Eckhards Epi Cacti crosses use jungle cacti species (Epi Cacti) in the genera of Disocactus, Hylocereus, Heliocereus, Selenicereus and Epiphyllum. Almost all of Eckhard's hybrid creations are different and very unusual due to these crosses being used in both there bloom color and form, but even more so in there growth characteristics compared to the typical Epiphyllum hybrids already hybridized.
Eckhard has also spent time hybridizing in other cacti genera besides Epi Cacti including hybridizing in Trichocereus crosses. A few examples of his amazing Trichocereus creations are also showcased and pictured on this page. Trichocereus have just as vividly colored blooms as Epi Cacti do. To see a page solely about Echinopsis of which Trichocereus are now classified under please visit the 'Echinopsis Growing Page'. There is also a link conveniently provided there towards the bottom which will bring you back to this page whenever you are ready to return.
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Eckhard's cross of Hylocereus stenopterus x Hylocereus Undatus
Pictured below is just one example of a Jungle Cacti cross which Eckhard made by hand pollination in 1987 using Hylocereus stenopterus x Hylocereus Undatus. Nine years later ’Connie Mayer’ bloomed followed in 1997 by ’Kathy Van Arum’ and then ‘Bruni’ in 1998. A total of eleven years time was invested by Eckhard from the time of pollination to seeing all of these seedlings eventually producing a bloom.
NOTE; Hylocereus stenopterus was the pod-parent whereas Hylocereus undatus was the pollen-parent, not vice versa (as stated in the ISI-publication in the C&SJ 79(2), 2007).
These 3 hybrids below were all produced from the same cross of Hylocereus stenopterus x Hylocereus Undatus.
Kathie Van Arum was named after an Epiphyllum cacti friend of Eckhard Meier's from the S.D.E.S. (San Diego Epiphyllum Society) whereas Connie Mayer and Bruni were both friends of Eckhards, both attractive and charming ladies, whose names in Eckhards words; " Were just right for naming two beautifully flowering hybrids."
(Pictured above left to right is 'Connie Mayer' and 'Kathie Van Arum'.)
(Pictured above; 'Bruni', photo credit to Dr.Rudi Dorsch.)
(Pictured above clockwise from top; George French and Madeline French, seated is Kathie Van Arum and Eckhard Meiers son Carsten also seated next to George French. This picture was taken in April 1990 so Eckhard Meier's son Carsten Meier is now a surgeon practicing at Bad Mergentheim Hospital in Germany.)
(Below for your enjoyment is a slide show of Eckhard Meier's hybrids.)
Note; Simply click the > play button in the center to start the slide show.
Eckhard's Hunsrück-Series of Epi-Cacti hybrids
In this section are all of Eckhard's Epi Cacti 'Hunsrück' creations which are pictured/described below with catalog links. They are categorized in a I thru IV series with the first series done in a two part/reverse A and B cross. In total there were 5 individual crosses made of which one hybrid does not have Hunsruck in its name. All the hybrids in this Hunsruck series of crosses have there first name beginning with the word 'Hunsrück' but the one. Eckhard named most of these hybrids with the 'Hunsrück mountains' above the town of Simmern in mind. The Hunsrück mountains surround the town of Simmern in Germany. Below are also pictures of the town of Simmern and the Hunsrück mountains where Eckhard grew many of his hybrid Epi Cacti crosses and there parents. There is also pictures of Eckhard's greenhouses and growing areas.
Keep in mind that although this area is very beautiful and scenic especially threw the seasons,the growing conditions to produce these hybrids were not as easy compared to the conditions many other hybridizers may enjoy. Simmern gets an average annual snowfall of 33.4 inches (84.84 cm). The yearly average of days that are below freezing is 98.7. Since Epi Cacti cannot tolerate freezing temperatures but only for very brief periods you can begin to understand that these are very difficult conditions to grow a large collection of Epi Cacti seedlings.
(Pictured above; View of the Hunsrück Mountains with Eckhard Meier's
then 7-year-old son Dirk Meier pictured in yr. 1985. Eckhard's son Dirk is now a Dr.of neurology (neurologist) practicing at Karlsruhe Hospital in Germany.)
(Pictured above; The town of Simmern, Germany in summer time.)
( Click the map above to explore Simmern, Germany and the surrounding Hunsrück Mountains.)
(Pictured above; Eckhard's greenhouses in Simmern at spring/summer time, Epis are also hung in nearby trees-not shown.)
(Pictured above; Eckhards greenhouse, again pictured far right with icicles on the greenhouses roof edge and center; vistas from his former home of Simmern in winter time.)
Hunsrück-Series I of Epi-Cacti hybrids
('Spacerocket'x 'Professor Ebert' and reverse cross of 'Professor Ebert' x 'Spacerocket'.)
These 2 Epiphyllum Hybrids below 'SPACEROCKET' pictured on the left and 'PROFESSOR EBERT' pictured on the right were used as one of the Hunsrück series crosses. Mouse over there images to see the variations in colors they can display from one season to the next. You can also click either one to see there full E.S.A. descriptions.
They were first crossed with 'SPACEROCKET'-(As the pollinator) X 'PROFESSOR EBERT'-( As the seed parent) and that produced two hybrids that were registered; 'HUNSRUCK DEBUT' & 'HUNSRUCK GOLIATH' (Both are pictured below there parents.
Then a cross was made in reverse with 'PROFESSOR EBERT'-(As the pollinator) X 'SPACEROCKET'-(As the seed parent) this reverse crossing produced 2 more hybrids of 'HUNSRUCK BELLE' and 'SPACEROCKET IMPROVED'-(NOTE; 'Spacerocket Improved' was not registered with E.S.A.)these are also pictured below.
(Pictured above left to right; 'SPACEROCKET' & 'PROFESSOR EBERT'.)
Hunsruck hybrids created by crossing Epiphyllums
'Spacerocket' X 'Professor Ebert'
(Pictured above; 'HUNSRUCK DEBUT'.)
(Pictured above; 'HUNSRUCK GOLIATH')
Hunsruck hybrids created by (reverse) crossing Epiphyllums
'Professor Ebert' X 'Spacerocket'
( Pictured above; 'Hunsrück Belle')
(Pictured above; 'Spacerocket-Improved' Note; This hybrid is not currently registered with E.S.A.)
Hunsruck Hybrids series II created by crossing
Epiphyllum 'Discovery' x Selenicereus chrysocardium
(Pictured above from left; 'Discovery' and Selenicereus chrysocardium.)
(Pictured above; Epiphyllum hybrid 'Hunsruck Serenade'-Currently not registered with E.S.A.)
With so many Epiphyllum varieties, several other types of plants and more added every day heres an easy to use search box for your convienance to find the many plant varieties on the Mattslandscape.com website
Eckhard Meier's Mandarin-Series of crosses and there resulting hybrids.
All in the 'Mandarin Series' of crosses have Mandarin as there last name and where named this way since Eckhard used 'Stauchs Mandarin' as one of the parents in the two crosses made. The two crosses or parents are I-'Stauchs Mandarin' x 'Cooperi' and cross II-‘Stauchs Mandarin’ x ‘Crendatus’.
'Stauchs Mandarin' has unusual growth with parentage of Selenicereus anthonyanus with its deeply lobed stems and 'Mallisonnii' with its Disocactus parentage and Aporophyllum type growth. Then add 'Cooperi' with its very rare growth habits of fragrant blooms that emerge low on the stems sometimes even from beneath the soil line. This makes the 'MANDARIN' hybrids very unusual since the resulting hybrids which can end up with a bit of the characteristics of each crosses parentage have very diverse growth forms and bloom coloring. See below for yourself a few of the possibilities these two parents can make if crossed together.
Mandarin Series II-'Stauchs Mandarin' x 'Crendatus'
(Pictured above; Epi Cacti Hybrid 'Mandarin Improved' currently not registered with E.S.A..)
(Pictured above; Epi Cacti Hybrid 'Weisser Mandarin' currently not registered with E.S.A.)
Eckhard Meier's crosses of various other jungle cacti and there resulting hybrids.
These crosses below use various jungle cacti of different genera which on there own have widely different growth and bloom characteristics. The resulting crosses below may have parentage of Selenicereus grandiflorus, Hylocereus purpusii, Disocactus speciosus, Selenicereus anthonyanus or are crosses with hybrids of Disocactus ×mallisonii or 'Stauchs Mandarin'.
Hybrids created;'Kesselring''Müllers Mandarin'
Meet The Parents X
Pictured below are some of the parents used for these crosses. Notice the parents varied growth with stems deeply lobed, ribbed stems and the differences in there blooms.
( Pictured above left to right; Selenicereus anthonyanus, Selenicereus grandiflorus-front and Selenicereus grandiflorus-side view.)
‘Kesselring’
(Hyloselenicereus)
This hybrid was created by crossing;
Selenicereus grandiflorus X Hylocereus purpusii
( Pictured above; 'Kesselring')
( Above; Another view of 'Kesselring')
'Müllers Mandarin'
((×Disoselenicereus))
This hybrid was created by crossing;
‘Stauchs Mandarin' X Disocactus speciosus
( Pictured above; 'Müllers Mandarin')
CROSS Resulting Hybrids
II Mandarin-Series
1a) ’Stauchs Mandarin’ x ’Cooperi’ ‘Orange Mandarin’ ; ‘Roter Mandarin’ n.r.
‘Rose Mandarin’
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1b) ‘Stauchs Mandarin’ x ‘Crendatus’ ‘Improved Mandarin’ n.r. ; ‘Weisser Mandarin’ n.r.
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III Hylocereus ×stendatus-Series
Hylocereus stenopterus x Hylocereus undatus ‘Bruni’ ; ‘Connie Mayer’ ; ‘Kathie van Arum’
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IV Registration of hybrids of other origins
1) HU 988 (ancestry unknown, found in Brazilian wilderness) ‘Werner Uebelmann’
2) Selenicereus grandiflorus x Hylocereus purpusii ‘Kesselring’ (×Hyloselenicereus)
3) ‘Stauchs Mandarin’ x Disocactus speciosus ‘Müllers Mandarin’ (×Disoselenicereus)
4) Selenicereus anthonyanus x Disocactus ×mallisonii ‘Stauchs Mandarin’ ; ‘Stauchs Wormatia’
(×Disoselenicereus)
