By Tom McCoy
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 – 7:00 pm Pacific Time (California)
Members and visitors can attend in person in San Francisco,
orregister or join the meeting in progresson Zoom. Sorry, no Zoom this month.
Program Description
The Aloe species native to Africa and Madagascar are more widely grown and better known in horticulture, but there are many species found on the Arabian Peninsula as well. Those from Saudi Arabia have been studied by few botanists because of the difficulty in getting permission to travel in many parts of the country, so this talk is a rare opportunity to hear from the world’s leading authority on the subject, and to see the many beautiful photos he has compiled on his travels.
About our Speaker
Tom McCoy developed a deep passion for natural history from a young age, collecting fossils, seashells, reptiles, birds, and plants. His love for botany led him to travel extensively across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Arabia and Madagascar. For over 30 years, he lived in Saudi Arabia, balancing his career with his deep interest in the genus Aloe. He has published extensively on the subject, naming over 50 species, and he maintains one of the world’s largest live collections of Aloe. McCoy is also an accomplished aviculturist and bibliophile. He is a fellow of the Linnaean Society of London and holds memberships in numerous scientific organizations, including the American Society of Plant Taxonomists and the Botanical Society of America. His book The Aloes of Arabia, published in 2019, is the most thorough monograph on the subject ever done.
Meeting Agenda
7:00 Mingling and announcements
7:30 Formal presentation starts promptly with Society business
7:35 Show and Tell Table
7:50 Leg stretch
7:55 Featured presentation
Show & tell table: Aloes on the succulent side (especially Arabian ones if you happen to grow any); TLobivia and Soehrensia for cacti (both of these were for a while placed in Echinopsis, along with the original Echinopsis and Trichocereus); and caudiciform Asclepiads for pachycauls (Fockea, Brachystelma, Ceropegia).
Featured grower: TBA
Snack table: Some basics are provided by the club, but we suggest bringing something to share every couple of months if you partake regularly. As a thought, we are often short on drinks.
Watch Online
On Zoom: Register or join the meeting in progress. Sorry, no Zoom this month
Upcoming Events
Monthly Volunteer Day at the Golden Gate Park “Arizona Garden“
NOTE MAY VOLUNTEER DAY WILL BE THE SATURDAY MAY 16th, AND THE JUNE VOLUNTEER DAY WILL BE ON SUNDAY 7TH TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH OUR SUCCULENT EXPO.
Third Sunday of each month
9am – 12noon – Come any time.
Just east of the Conservatory of Flowers.
More Info – Check the linked page at 8am on the day of to see weather cancellation announcements.
Monthly Volunteer Day at The Gardens of Lake Merritt
Fourth Saturday of each month
10am – 2:30pm with a break for lunch at noon
666 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA
Upcoming Meetings
Meetings usually occur on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
April – Carl Frederick on Namaqualand
May – Tom McCoy on the Aloes of Saudi Arabia
SF Succulent Expo 2026
Every year the San Francisco Succulent and Cactus Society puts on the the largest succulent show in Northern California!
June 19-21, 2026
Friday afternoon & Sat 9-10am members only – Join now
Sat 10-5 and Sun 9-5 open to the public
San Francisco County Fair Building
Featuring 35+ plant and pottery vendors, a weekend of talks and live demos, and a specimen plant show.