Varieties of Flowering Cactus

Triangle Cactus

• The triangle cactus is also known as chaco and barbed-wire cactus. It grows quickly, producing an arching sprawl of stems that are several meters long. They produce sweet-smelling, nocturnal flowers that are between 4 and 8 inches in diameter, and after the flowers fall, it produces shiny red fruit. One positive trait of this flowering cactus is that it attracts hummingbird moths.

Hedgehog Cactus

• The hedgehog cactus produces flowers that range into the richer shades of pink and purple. There are many varieties to choose from, with some that are as small as 4 inches tall and some that grow to a towering 8 feet tall. Some varieties have fainter flowers, but they all bloom during the springtime. The flowers are diurnal, and close at night, only to reopen during the day.

Prickly Pear

• The prickly pear cactus produces cup-shaped yellow, red or orange flowers. The flowers grow on paddle-shaped limbs, and though the individual flowers only last for a day, the cactus itself will stay in bloom for several weeks. After the flowers drop off, attractive red-purple berries remain, which can grow to be between 2 and 3 inches long.

Barrel Cactus

• The barrel cactus produces bell-shaped flowers that come in rich oranges and yellow. The cactus itself is round with red ribs and white radial spines. Depending on the variety, these cacti can grow to be 11 feet tall, while other varieties are shorter and only grow to be about a foot tall.

Mistletoe Cactus

• Mistletoe cactus is a cactus with drooping, pale green stems. In the wild, the stems grow up to 30 feet long. The stems produce small, greenish-white flowers all season long, and it is an excellent choice for a hanging basket. After the flowers fall off, the cactus produces small white fruit that resemble mistletoe berries.