The cactus names on this page cover the spined, sculptural members of the Cactaceae family. These include both desert giants and trailing species that dangle in humid forests.
POPULARQueen of The Night
Epiphyllum oxypetalum
POPULARMoon Cactus
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii
POPULARThanksgiving Cactus
Schlumbergera truncata
POPULARMistletoe Cactus
Rhipsalis baccifera
POPULARSpiny pincushion cactus
Mammillaria spinosissima
POPULARRice cactus
Rhipsalis cereuscula
Dancing bones cactus
Hatiora salicornioides
POPULARLadyfinger Cactus
Mammillaria elongata
Common pricklypear
Opuntia monacantha
Chain Cactus
Rhipsalis paradoxa
Hairy Stemmed Rhipsalis
Rhipsalis pilocarpa
Rhipsalis burchellii
Rhipsalis burchellii
Pine Cone Cactus
Tephrocactus articulatus
Star Cactus
Astrophytum asterias
Bunny Ear Cactus
Opuntia microdasys
Feather Cactus
Mammillaria plumosa
Bilberry Cactus
Myrtillocactus geometrizans
Pilosocereus pachycladus
Pilosocereus pachycladus
Cuddly cactus
Cereus jamacaru
Agave cactus
Leuchtenbergia principis
Old Lady Cactus
Mammillaria hahniana
Chichituna
Polaskia chichipe
Hurricane Cactus
Lepismium cruciforme
Thumb Cactus
Mammillaria matudae
Easter Cactus
Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri
Brain Cactus
Stenocactus multicostatus
Bishop's Cap
Astrophytum myriostigma
Silken Pincushion Cactus
Mammillaria bombycina
Mammillaria polythele
Mammillaria polythele
queen of the night
Selenicereus grandiflorus
Triangle cactus
Acanthocereus tetragonus
Eve's needle cactus
Austrocylindropuntia subulata
Brazilian Prickly Pear
Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis
Old man cactus
Cephalocereus senilis
Silver torch cactus
Cleistocactus strausii
Easter lily cactus
Echinopsis oxygona
Devil's Tongue Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus latispinus
Dwarf Chin Cactus
Gymnocalycium baldianum
Giant Chin Cactus
Gymnocalycium saglionis
Peyote
Lophophora williamsii
Artichoke cactus
Obregonia denegrii
Balloon cactus
Parodia magnifica
Ric Rac cactus
Selenicereus anthonyanus
Toothpick Cactus
Stetsonia coryne
Ariocarpus retusus
Ariocarpus retusus
Road Kill Cactus
Consolea rubescens
ladyfinger cactus
Echinocereus pentalophus
pingpong-ball cactus
Epithelantha micromeris
cotton ball cactus
Espostoa lanata
Espostoa melanostele
Espostoa melanostele
Acitrón barrel cactus
Ferocactus histrix
Mammillaria albilanata
Mammillaria albilanata
Powderpuff cactus
Mammillaria bocasana
Dwarf turk's cap cactus
Melocactus matanzanus
Eastern Prickly Pear
Opuntia humifusa
Old Man of the Andes
Oreocereus celsianus
Old Man of the Mountain
Oreocereus trollii
Barbados gooseberry
Pereskia aculeata
Kimnachia
Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa
Rhipsalis pachyptera
Rhipsalis pachyptera
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Cacti form a single, closely related family, known as Cactaceae. It lies within the broader group of succulents, while maintaining its own distinct identity. Our list of cactus species covers the entire family.
Botanists estimate there are approximately 1,750 species, distributed across approximately 130 genera, and almost all of them are native to the Americas. The only odd exception is Rhipsalis baccifera, which also grows wild in parts of Africa and Sri Lanka. Its seeds were likely carried there by birds or old sailors, while all other cacti are firmly rooted in the Western Hemisphere.
A single structure distinguishes cacti from all other succulents. Areoles are tiny raised pads located throughout the plant from which spines, flowers, and new shoots emerge. No other plant family produces such small cushions. The spines themselves are actually leaves, cleverly disguised as regular ones, as regular, broad leaves would waste too much precious water. The stem turns green and quietly performs photosynthesis — a trick unique to the Cactaceae family.
Not every cactus is a desert survivor, despite popular belief. A whole group of cacti actually lives high among humid tropical trees, growing as epiphytes directly on the branches. Their appearance and habits are starkly different from the spiny desert species we all imagine. You can compare the two sides in the table below.
Type | Habitat | Morphology | Examples |
Arid, sunbaked ground | Thick stems, heavy spines | ||
Humid tropical canopy | Flat or trailing, few spines | Christmas cactus, Rhipsalis paradoxa |
We conveniently present the grid of desert and forest species. Here you'll find most of the known cactus names with pictures, which allows you to identify the species you're looking for.
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