Scott, The first depicts an Echinocactus ingens or grandis or visnaga or palmeri or platyacanthus. They are VERY similar and most 'experts' lump them to Ecac. platyacanthus. They'll become big (up to 6 ft. tall and 2 ft. in ø) plants eventually, i.e. within 100-300 years! Jordi

The 2nd is definately Krimson Queen, I've never seen or heard its scientific name. I'm uncertain abt the 1st, I doubt it's a plain Carnosa, am guessing its some kind of cross btwn that & Pubicalyx. Tho' I've never bloomed either, have seen them both in bloom, I thought I'd heard/read Carnosa blooms tend to be pink. Also yours is very speckled & consistently speckled, which in my experience is more like Pubicalyx than Carnosa, yet the leaf shape isn't quite right for Pubicalyx, which tend to have a more elongated & tapered to a point leaves. Hum .. curious, but looks nice & healthy whatever it is.

Thank you so much for each of your comments and lovely photos! When doing research I also thought that the form on GT looked a bit different but then the colouring had me confused. The fragrance was pleasing and fruity but not overpowdering although I only had one opportunity to smell it before the open flowers wilted in the heat. I am going to stick with the rose as GC then and see what she does :-) I just really wanted GC over GT and I know myself: if I realize that it was not GC in a year's time, I will not have the heart to remove a healthy growing and probably still beatiful rose!

I would say it appears to be good match. Very different from the Carlina aucalis I have grown. I have been enjoying your posts .