Here is the list of Best Flowering Cactus Plants which are not only thorny and prickly but easy to grow, too!
We have covered the best flowering cactus plants for you in this article along with their specialities and interesting facts. Let’s check them out!
Best Flowering Cactus Plants
1. Spiny Pincushion Cactus
Botanical Name: Mammillaria spinosissima
The pink flowers on this cactus look like a crown on its head. Spiny Pincushion Cactus is great at conserving water, thriving in dry conditions with little care. Its stems store water efficiently, helping it survive even the driest periods.
2. Powder Puff Cactus
Botanical Name: Mammillaria bocasana
Due to its white, hair-like spines, this Cactus has a soft, fuzzy look. It frequently blooms with small, delicate white or pink flowers. This cactus is different because of its powdery look, hence its name.
3. Schlosser Cactus
Botanical Name: Notocactus schlosseri
Schlosser Cactus produces beautiful lemon-yellow flowers in summer. Along with its beauty, Schlosser Cactus is safe for kids and pets and really easy to maintain!
4. Rosy Pincushion Cactus
Botanical Name: Mammillaria zeilmanniana
Rosy Pincushion Cactus has fleshy stems, so many spines, and colorful blooms. It is very famous to grow as a houseplant and has over 200 species and varieties. This cactus grows best in full sun or bright direct light, but like some afternoon shade in hot weather.
5. Dwarf Turk’s Cap Cactus
Botanical Name: Melocactus matanzanus
The red, woolly top of the cactus, resembling the fez worn by Turkish men in the late Ottoman Empire, is why it’s called Turk’s cap cactus. This feature also gives its name to the Turks Islands in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
This cactus is native to Cuba and is endangered in the wild. It is a small, slow-growing variety with copper-colored spines and pink flowers.
6. Sulcorebutia Cactus
Botanical Name: Sulcorebutia albissima
Sulcorebutia Cactus are loved for their beautiful large blooms in colors like red, pink, yellow, and orange. They are are easy to care for, cold-tolerant, and come in a various varieties.
7. Balloon Cactus
Botanical Name: Parodia magnifica
This cactus looks like small balls or balloons with attractive yellow blooms on the top hence it is also called Ball Cactus.
The best thing is they are non-toxic to humans and pets and require bright indirect light, so you can use it as a centerpiece for your home where it can get the sunlight it needs!
8. Aylostera Cactus
Botanical Name: Rebutia
Aylostera Cactus is a slow-growing cactus, but it is absolutely easy to grow. So if, you are a beginner, you can go for it! People love it for its bright orange flowers which are usually about 2-4 cm across.
9. Bishop’s Hat Cactus
Botanical Name: Astrophytum myriostigma
Have you ever seen the Bishop’s Hat? Yes, this cactus resembles the shape of that hat, which is why it’s named after it! Plus, it’s adorable white blooms with a little fragrance are a good reason to grow it in your house!
10. Chin Cactus
Botanical Name: Gymnocalycium
Chin Cactus is an ornamental plant and doesn’t need much sun and shares same requirements of water, soil, and nutritional need with other species.
There are around 50 species of Chin cacti, including the popular Lollipop or Moon cactus. They lack chlorophyll and need grafting onto a green base for food synthesis.
11. Fairy Castle Cactus
Botanical Name: Acanthocereus Tetragonus Variegata
Fairy Castle Cactus has stems shaped like columns with five sides, and it grows short white spines along the edges. Sometimes it blooms white, pink or yellow flowers, especially at night.
It is also called Cereus tetragonus and is native to the Americas, but it rarely blooms, and when it does, it’s usually after about 10 years of growing.
12. Starfish Cactus
Botanical Name: Stapelia orbea variegata
Should we say something about these beautiful star-like flowers? This succulent attracts not only pollinators and bees but also humans, You can’t help but notice its star-shaped blooms which mainly grow in late summer or autumn.
13. Peanut Cactus
Botanical Name: Echinopsis chamaecereus
Peanut cactus is a lovable cactus with lots of finger-like stems and gorgeous spring-to-summer flowers. It loves sun so much and looks great in small pots.
14. Lobivia Cactus
Botanical Name: Lobivia famatimensis
Lobivia famatimensis typically has a green globular body with spines. This cactus is popular to produce its egg-yellow flowers during the spring and summer months. And, the unique thing is these blooms often open during the day and close at night
15. Beavertail Cactus
Botanical Name: Opuntia basilaris
Pollinators absolutely love the pink flowers of this cactus. Once the cacti finish blooming, their blooms turn into fruit that birds enjoy.
Another interesting thing about beavertail cactus paddles is that many types don’t have spines, only tiny bristles. But be careful, because these bristles can still irritate your skin if they get stuck in it.
16. Dwarf Easter Cactus
Botanical Name: Hatiora rosea
Dwarf Easter Cactus has aromatic rose-pink flowers which blooms in the springtime, around Easter. This cactus is a smooth, jointed plant with segments that are about 2 to 3 inches long. It doesn’t have any spines.
