Do you know how many types of cactus in Arizona reside? Let’s find out and learn about their secrets of survival in such arid conditions.
Arizona is also famous as the ‘ Grand Canyon State ’ and is home to more than 60 different character of cactus plants . swan from the state blossom Saguaro cactus to the rare species of Pincushion cactus , these singular desert dwellers take shelter in the rocky slopes and river banks of the desert . countenance ’s explore some in this listicle !
Types of Cactus in Arizona
1. Old Man Cactus
Botanical Name : Cephalocereus senilis
Cephalocereus senilis is a tall cactus produce in the dry shrubland orbit of the desert . It is a popular houseplant today , as it is quite pop for its hairy or wooly appearance . have bunch of stems that get to16 to 40 feettall .
However , the most attractive feature is its vigorous pelage of long snowy hairsbreadth from which it incur the name “ old man cactus . ”
2. Ocotillo
Botanical Name : Fouquieria splendens
When you take the air through the comeupance of Arizona , ocotillo plants will be the first thing that you observe . They are the slender and improbable , cane - likeunbranched spiny stem that acquire from a short trunk . However , it is not a true cactus , but thethorny appearancecontributes to do it a cactus !
3. Santa Rita Prickly Pear
Botanical Name : Opuntia santa - rita
weigh as afood of the desert ! Surprisingly , almost all coinage of the Opuntia genus accept eatable fruits and pads that serve as a intellectual nourishment informant for desert beast and humankind . The pads of this cactus are round with a bluish - gray to royal colour and the fruit are comparatively low and scarlet purple .
Moreover , these mellifluous - to - taste fruits can be consume in the raw or used to make various product such as jam , jelly , and even alcoholic beverage like Prickly Pear cactus wine .
4. Saguaro
Botanical Name : Carnegia gigantia
A giant that stands tall in the desert , the Saguaro cactus is found only in the Sonoran Desert . Interestingly , they can grow up to 70 feet improbable and librate upwards of 4,500 Lebanese pound when they get to about 50 to 75 years quondam .
Moreover , the blooms of this cactus are thestate flower of Arizona , and there are strict regulations on their collection or destruction .
5. Santa Cruz Beehive Cactus
Botanical Name : Coryphantha recurvata
Also popular as theGolden Pincushionfor its vigorous spines all over its pear-shaped barrel structure . The Santa Cruz Beehive cactus is an endearing - looking , orotund , and small cactus that measures up to 6 inches but often grows in colonies of 40 to 50 individuals .
6. Hedgehog Cactus
Botanical Name : Echinocereus reichenbachii
The Hedgehog cactus gets its name because it somewhat resembles one ! It ’s also sometimes called the strawberry mark Hedgehog cactus because its fruit tastes a little number like strawberries . The fruit is often eaten by birds and rodents and it has pretty burnished pink cup - shape flowers that close at dark and undecided in the morning .
7. Bonker Hedgehog Cactus
Botanical Name : Echinocereus bonkerae
A rarefied beauty that lies in a small field in the center of the state between Payson and San Carlos Lake near the Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona . The Bonker Hedgehog has a very attractive structure because of its short , bristly spines over its gullible cylindrical stem .
8. Barrel Cactus
Botanical Name : Ferocactus species
The mighty Barrel cactus is also known as a Compass cactus sometimes , because it grow faster on its northerly or suspicious side which makes the whole cactus curvature and point somewhat towards the Dixie . Interestingly , the older ones can tend so far that they in reality uproot and come down over in heavy rain . Once they fall over though they do n’t die promptly and can still inhabit for up to 6 years .
9. Cholla Cactus
Botanical Name : Cylindropuntia specie
The attractive yet weird one ! Cholla cactus is sometimes referred to as the Jumping cactus because the spines detach very easy and can seem to leap on you if brush over . The spines are covered with papery sheaths that flow off with age . It create newfangled peak on the chains every yr reach the chains grow longer .
10. Eagle Claws
Botanical Name : barrel cactus horizonthalonius
Thesespiky dudesbelong to the genus of Barrel cactus . bird of Jove claws are attractive , slow - growing species with spacious ribs bearing clusters of ( 5 to 8) stellate spines . The gorgeous undimmed pink flowers organize at the top in the early summer season .
11. Fishhook Cactus
Botanical Name : Echinomastus erectocentrus
It is quite rare and is useable only in some specific neighborhood of southern Arizona . The Fishhook cactus have maroon - purple spines over its upright body and showcases beautiful white to off - lily-white flowers at the top in the form of a cockeyed circle during the leap season after giving out green fruits at the end .
12. Common Beehive Cactus
Botanical Name : Esobaria viviparia
The Common Beehive cactus is the most widespread cactus in the US . Because it seems to have a good frost tolerance and adapts well to a wide range of home ground . It has the noteworthy shape of a earth or small cylinder , generally less than 2 inch in diameter , and can develop up to 8 inches under favorable stipulation .
13. Devil Club Cholla
Botanical Name : Grusonia emoryi
The Devil Club Cholla is bump in the rocky slopes of the desert . It has a high ornamental value and is mostly used as a hedge works . However , mind of its gruesome long pricker that are all over its body . Besides , it bear small , yellow flowersafter the first rain of saltation - summer .
14. Pincushion Cactus
Botanical Name : Mammillaria grahamii
Pincushion cactus are very small , delicate , basally - branching columnar cacti with very showy pinkish flowers . They make an splendid addition to an intimate - scale cactus , rock-and-roll , or display garden , and contrast well with other small agave and cacti species . This is an excellent selection for intimate - scurf desert , rock , and succulent gardens .
15. Violet Prickly Pear
Botanical Name : Opuntia gosseliniana
The twin sibling of the Santa Rita Prickly Pear ! The two look almost the same and are determine in the same sphere but theViolet prickly peargenerally has shorter spines or no spines at all and also has larger launchpad with prominent cluster .
Moreover , the pads may be purple or fleeceable depending on environmental term ; when purpleness , the species resembles Opuntia Santa Claus - rita .
16. Purple Prickly Pear
Botanical Name : Opuntia macrocentra
Thered - tinged succulentpads and very long spine well distinguish it from the many other metal money of prickly pear . Purple Prickly pear have a nice over-embellished hint that is more around the areoles and on the edges . Although the integral plant life may seem to appear royal in winter !
17. Tulip Prickly Pear
Botanical Name : Opuntia phaeacantha
Have you issue forth across their smart ruby and yellow bloom ? The blossom of the Tulip Prickly Pear are so gorgeous and tender that upon the reaching of flowering season , the red hue is a wonderful sight to catch ! It wait more beautiful when the evening sundown ray contrast with them .
18. Totem Pole Cactus
Botanical Name : Pachycereus schottii
Totem Poles are name such because of their unusual textures that look like multiple human face carved along the luggage compartment ! Besides , the bark of the straight metal money , P. schottii has been used to treatcancer , diabetes , ulcer , sores , stomach disorders , and tuberculosis .
19. Brady’s Pincushion Cactus
Botanical Name : Pediocactus bradyi
Brady ’s Pincushion is useable in scatter population over the area of the Marble Canyon along the Colorado River . This is athreatened species that exclusively produce on Kaibab limestone chips in sloping benches . Besides , it has a alone characteristic of inhume itself inside the filth during drought conditions !
20. Organ pipe cactus
Botanical Name : Stenocereus thurberi
Along with the Saguaro , the Organ Pipe Cactus is one of Arizona ’s most distinctive cacti . It forms large clusters of 30 - base - in high spirits stems , branching from the base of operations . This characteristic is what distinguishes the two species , as branches on saguaro only appear partway up the stem .
So , how do you like the assemblage of these 20 most rough-cut to a few rarefied ones ? Would you like to append some more to it ? If you may , we would deeply appreciate it .
