If you love to hang plants for more beauty, then climb to the top of your gardening skills with these best hanging cacti!
Why settle for the ordinary when you can have extraordinary? Yes! These hanging cactus trails not only bloom gracefully but also thrive with minimal effort. Let’s explore some of the best ones for your home!
Hanging Cactus Plants
1. Monkey Tail Cactus
Botanical Name: Cleistocactus colademononis
If there were an award for the most playful cactus, the Monkey Tail would win hands down. Its fuzzy, cascading stems resemble a monkey’s tail and can grow up to 8 feet long, which is why, perfect for hanging baskets. Bright orange-red flowers with pink centers that appear in spring are just the icing on the cake!
Just place it in bright, indirect light and let the soil dry out between waterings. It thrives on low-maintenance love.
2. Rat Tail Cactus
Botanical Name: Disocactus flagelliformis
Slender, trailing stems that can stretch up to 5 feet make the Rat Tail cactus an eye-catching bonus to any hanging setup. It’s bristly spines and beautiful pink to red flowers make it impossible to miss when in bloom. You can provide bright, indirect sunlight indoors or full to partial sun outdoors for happy, blooming stems.
Did You Know? It’s earned the RHS Award of Garden Merit, a nod to its beauty and resilience.
3. Fishbone Cactus
Botanical Name: Epiphyllum anguliger
This cactus is as fun as it sounds, with zigzag-shaped stems that look like fishbones—hence it’s also called the Zigzag Cactus. Not only this but it produces large, fragrant white and yellow flowers and even edible fruits similar to dragon fruit.
And you know what, it can thrive in humid environments and is completely safe for pets, so it is a family favorite.
4. Mistletoe Cactus
Botanical Name: Rhipsalis baccifera
The Mistletoe Cactus is a vision of lush greenery, with slender, spaghetti-like stems that trail up to an astonishing 13 feet. As its nickname “Mouse Tail” suggests, these stems have a quirky character of their own. Small, white flowers and pearl-like berries are just the cherry on top. Plus, when exposed to bright light, the stems can even blush red!
5. Orchid Cactus
Botanical Name: Disocactus ackermannii
The Orchid Cactus is loved for its long, flat stems that cascade beautifully. During spring or summer, it blooms with large, colorful flowers that are also fragrant. Give it humid conditions, bright, indirect light, and a little shade in hotter months. It’s a treat for the eyes!
6. Coral Cactus
Botanical Name: Euphorbia lactea ‘Cristata’
You can call it “Rice cactus” too. It has thin, branching stems that resemble coral, and it blooms with creamy white flowers. If you’re just starting with plants, this one’s a good pick since it’s pretty forgiving.
Coral Cactus is an easy-going plant but just needs a bit more soil moisture than the desert relatives so you can use an orchid potting medium rather than a pre-mixed medium, especially for cacti.
7. Christmas Cactus
Botanical Name: Schlumbergera bridgesii
The Christmas Cactus is famous for its festive blooms, which appear in multiple colors like red, pink, or even yellow just in time for the holidays. Plus, It is popular for its segmented, trailing stems which are perfect for hanging pots.
It’s easy to care for—just keep it in bright, indirect light and water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
8. Dancing Bones
Botanical Name: Hatiora salicornioides
This quirky cactus gets its name from its funny, jointed stems that look like tiny dancing bones. It’s a great fit for hanging baskets and produces small yellow flowers when it blooms.
You can keep it in bright, indirect light and part shade. But be careful—some species of Hatiora can be toxic, so keep it out of reach of pets and kids.
9. Peanut Cactus
Botanical Name: Echinopsis chamaecereus
This small cactus is named for its plump, peanut-shaped stems that trail attractively in hanging pots. It’s especially lovely when it bursts into bright orange or red flowers. It prefers full sunlight and likes its soil to dry out completely between waterings, hence it is a low-maintenance plant for sunny spaces.
10. Pencil Cactus
Botanical Name: Euphorbia tirucalli
The Pencil Cactus has an airy, sculptural feel with slender, branching stems that can grow as large as a small tree in its natural habitat. Its bright green stems steal the spotlight in hanging baskets, while its small yellow flowers. Loves bright, indirect light and adapts well to outdoor conditions in Zones 10 to 12.
Caution: The plant’s milky sap is toxic and can irritate skin, so handle it carefully and keep it away from pets or children.
11. Queen of the Night
Botanical Name: Epiphyllum oxypetalum
As per its name, this cactus is actually the queen of the night among plants because of its massive aromatic flowers that bloom at night. The blooms are usually white or pink and look amazing against its long, green stems, which can trail up to 10 feet.
It does best in bright, indirect light and can handle a bit of morning sun. If it’s too cold outside, bring it indoors to protect it. And the bonus is, it’s safe for pets, too!
So, which of these hanging cacti will you bring home? Let us know in the comments below—we’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences!
