Common Cactus Varieties

Cactus Types

• Major types of cacti include columnar cacti, barrel cacti, hedgehog cacti, pincushion cacti, cholla cacti and prickly pear cacti. Columnar cacti have cylindrical stems that run from top to bottom and are taller than they are wide. Barrel cacti also have cylindrical stems but are wider than they are tall. Hedgehog cacti are less than 5 inches in diameter and have cylindrical stems with ribs. Pincushion cacti have no ribs and central spines that are hooked. Cholla cacti have branched, cylindrical stems with jointed segments. Prickly pear cacti have flattened, pad-like stems.

Common Varieties

• Varieties of columnar cacti include Carnegiea "Sanguaro," Lophocereus "Senita," Packycereus "Cardon" and Stenocereus "Organpipe Cactus." Ferocactus "Fishook Barrel" and Enchinocactus "Many-headed Barrel" are varieties of barrel cacti. Enchinocereus are hedgehog cacti. Mammillaria "Fishhook Pincushion" are pincushion cacti. Opuntia "Chainfruit," "Christmas," "Staghorn" and "Teddybear" are all varieties of cholla cacti. Opuntia "Prickly Pear" is prickly pear cactus.

Uses of Common Cacti

• Cacti make excellent houseplants and garden specimens, but they also have practical uses. The sap of some cacti, for instance, is used in Native American cultures for medicinal purposes. Many cacti species are edible. The small, new growth of prickly pear cacti is cut and harvested for cooking. The growths, known as nopales, have a flavor and texture similar to green beans and are a favorite Mexican vegetable.

Caring for Cacti

• The best growing medium for cacti is a potting mix of equal parts coarse sand, peat and perlite, with extra sharp sand added to the upper inch. Keep cacti in a location that gets full sun to partial shade. Water when the top 4 to 6 inches of soil is dry. Be careful not to overwater; the soil should never be soggy. Allow the soil to dry thoroughly between waterings.