Deserts With Cactus

Sonoran Desert

• The Sonoran Desert, located in parts of Arizona and California, experiences more rainfall than any other desert in the world. The plants that grow in this climate, adapt to their environment by burying their roots deep into the earth to seek coolness. It is home to four different types of cactus. The Sonoran Desert is most famous for its Saguaro cactus, or the two-armed cactus, often seen in cartoons. This cactus has a shallow root system that allows it to store over 160 liters of water. It also features desert Christmas, hedgehog and prickly pear cacti, all of which are prevalent in many areas of the desert.

Mojave Desert

• The Mojave Desert covers a large portion of the West coast, including California, Nevada and Utah. It is home to 10 different types of spiny cactus. The barrel, cottontop and foxtail cactus are all vaguely cylindrical in shape, with spines growing in rows from the base. Beavertail, hedgehog, Mojave mound, old mound prickly pear, pencil, silver, and teddy bear cholla are other types of cactus that grow in the Mojave Desert. These cacti will sprout delicate, colorful flowers that are often pollinated by bats and are edible if you are able to get past the spines without injury.

Australian Desert

• The Australian desert takes up a majority of the island continent, making the land inhospitable in most cases. This climate is very dry and harsh, with only occasional rainfall. The cactus's ability to store water in body cavities helps them survive in the dry climate. In particular, the Australian desert cactus has made this dry climate its home. These cacti take up an astonishing 44 percent of the continent. The prickly pear cactus are also present in the deserts of Australia. Desert owls burrow inside cacti and make a nest that not only provides shelter from the sun but water for their young.

Great Basin Desert

• The Great Basin Desert is surrounded on either side by the Sierra Nevada - Cascade and Rocky Mountain ranges. This desert receives very little rainfall, and most of its annual precipitation in winter snow. The vast difference between the hot summers and the cold winters means that there are few plants that will grow in its valleys. The only major cactus that grows in the desert is the prickly pear cactus. This species of cactus is low-growing cactus that spreads quickly. It grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches.