Among the more than 1,800 species of cacti, there are tiny 1-centimetre spiny dwarfs as well as majestic specimens up to 16 meters high. The most beautiful cacti also inspire with a lavish bloom. We took a look around the realm of succulent survivalists and put together 20 recommendable cactus species for you.

There are countless types of cacti on the market

Small cacti up to 100 cm high

With their bizarre silhouette and breathtaking flowers, the following cacti in pots on the windowsill are the center of attention:

  • Bishop's cap (Astrophytum), demanding cactus with a height of 20 to 40 cm and a summer flowering period
  • Greisenhaupt (Cephalocereus senilis) scores with 40 cm high columns and silvery-white coat
  • Gold ball cactus (Echinocactus) impresses with its spherical body and gold-colored, strong thorns
  • Devil's pincushion (Ferokaktus acanthodes) reaches a whopping 30 cm in diameter with a height of up to 100 cm

The stars among the cactus species are undoubtedly the prickly pear cacti (Opuntia). They are available with and without thorns, with a columnar, cylindrical or richly branched body shape. Above all, Opuntia bloom in beautiful colors that are in no way inferior to the beauty of flowering perennials. In the right place, the cacti will give their gardener edible fruit after the blossom festival.

Barrel cactus - the popular Mexican treat

It's not just the fruit that numerous cactus species come up with. The barrel cactus (Ferocactus hytrix) can be found at every weekly market in Mexico. The spherical plant is broken up to candy the pieces. Not only children are crazy about the candy. However, the radially arranged thorns must first be carefully removed.

Cacti for the hanging basket

Where thorny tendrils dangle casually, the following types of cacti are useful as exotic room decorations:

  • Desert cactus (Aporocactus) with 70 cm long tendrils and red flowers from March to June
  • Coral cacti (Rhipsalis) thrive without thorns, with leaf-like, long stems that bear many flowers in spring
  • Leaf cacti (Epiphyllum) are characterized by tendrils that are 60 cm long and 5 cm wide and bloom twice
  • Snake cactus (Selenicerus grandiflorus), the queen of the night with fragrant flowers and long, slender shoots

One of the most well-known cactus species cannot be identified as such at first glance. The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) puts on its red blossoms in the middle of Advent and Christmas. As a leaf cactus, the popular houseplant has no prickly reinforcement and is only covered with delicate bristles. Thanks to its hanging shoots, the Christmas cactus is equally suitable for hanging baskets and pots.

Cactus species that reach up to the ceiling

If you flirt with a cactus, which forms the optical hotspot in the living room design, the following species will come into focus:

  • Cereus, the cactus species of superlatives with up to 10 m height and 2 cm long thorns
  • Silver candle (Cleistocactus), the slender beauty that grows to a height of 150 to 180 cm and carmine-red flowers that are 12 cm in size
  • Peasant cactus (Echinopsis) produces numerous columnar shoots and flowers from April to September
  • Candelabra cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) easily reaches a height of 120 cm in full sun indoors

The undisputed giant in the cacti kingdom is the candelabra cactus Carnegiea gigantea. In the wild, it reaches a height of 16 meters, weighs 8 tons and lives 200 years. Only at the age of 75 does the giant branch out for the first time at a height of 2 meters. His first heyday does not come until after his 90th birthday.

Hardy cacti for beds, rock gardens and dry walls

They really do exist, the hardy cactus species for imaginative planting in your outdoor area. The following species have developed an ingenious strategy for surviving a biting frost unscathed. The plants reduce the amount of cell sap and at the same time increase the salt content, so that they have their own antifreeze.

  • Opuntia cymochila: growth height 60 to 90 cm with blue-grey limbs and frost-resistant down to - 25 degrees Celsius
  • Opuntia engelmannii: growth height up to 100 cm, yellow flowers and edible fruits and hardy to - 22 degrees Celsius
  • Echinocereus triglochidiatus: Tiny hedgehog cactus with a height of 1 to 5 cm and robust winter hardiness down to - 20 degrees Celsius
  • Escobaria roseana: Picturesque, 20 cm tall spherical cactus with red flowers in summer and hardy down to -20 degrees Celsius

If you want a man-sized, hardy cactus for the garden, the cylindrical cactus (Cylindropuntia imbricata) is a good choice. It stretches up to 200 cm into the sky and boasts purple, yellow or pink flowers. Over the years, the cactus species branches out and assumes a shrubby to tree-like shape. Planted in a row, a hedge is formed that reliably wards off uninvited guests.

tips

Already knew? At the beginning of their evolution, cacti did not have thorns, but leaves. Only later did the leaves curl up to reduce evaporation in the hot desert climate. At the same time, the cacti with the thorns sought to protect themselves against herbivorous animals. Thanks to this clever strategy, the plants can do without toxic ingredients in order to successfully defend themselves.

Category:

Vegetable garden