Fountain Valley Developer Launches Rare Cactus Database
Brian Kealer has created an online resource for cacti and succulents that features millions of trade records.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Botany
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Fountain Valley resident and software developer Brian Kealer has launched the Rare Cactus website to help enthusiasts learn about various species. The site offers an expansive database featuring information on cacti genera and historical trade records.
Why it matters
The project provides a centralized resource for rare plant enthusiasts by aggregating complex data into an accessible format. It serves as both a botanical reference and a personal creative outlet for its creator.
The database includes 59,132 unique collector field numbers from 280 different collectors, alongside 2.3 million CITES trade records. The encyclopedia currently covers 32 distinct genera of cacti.
The players
Brian Kealer
He is a 41-year-old full-stack developer based in Fountain Valley who maintains a personal greenhouse.
The details
The website utilizes an illustrated encyclopedia that is cross-referenced with a large database of collector field numbers. By integrating CITES trade records dating back to 1976, the site offers a historical look at the movement and tracking of these plants.
Timeline
CITES trade records for cacti date back to 1976.
Brian Kealer began gardening cacti in 2020.
The website was featured in coverage on October 22, 2026.
The Big Picture
The project follows the pattern of using the CITES trade records to provide amateur hobbyists with professional-grade botanical insights. It shifts the accessibility of complex species data from institutional archives to public-facing digital platforms.
The database provides collectors with a reliable way to verify plant records and track species history for their own personal collections. Enthusiasts can use these tools to better identify rare cacti and understand the lineage of the plants they maintain in their own greenhouses.
The takeaway
Botanical hobbyists can benefit from using centralized databases to track the provenance and history of their plants. Maintaining a documented record of species data helps ensure that enthusiasts can grow their collections with increased accuracy.
Further reading
For more information on the study and classification of plants, visit the Botany section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
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