About Types of Cactus With Flowers

Flowering Cactus

• The flowers on cactus plants are large. Often a small 3-inch cactus will grow 2 to 3 flowers the same size. Flowering cactus blooms are as vibrant as they are large.

Crab Cactus

• Although the name does not suggest beauty, the crab cactus is a very beautiful flowering cactus. It is also one of the most common, and is revered for its plethora of bright flowers. The stems are flat and resemble the claws of a crab (see Resources).

Orchid Cactus

• The orchid cactus blooms in the summer and produces big red blooms. The flowers can grow up to 6 inches across. The outside petals are scarlet red and the inside are a deeper darker red. The stems will grow to about 3 feet tall (see Resources).

Christmas Cactus

• Christmas cactus comes in orange, fuchsia, cream, yellow and red, and will bloom once a year around Christmas time. It is a good choice for a hanging basket (see Resources).

Mexican Claret Cup

• The Mexican claret cup cactus plant grows in a clump. It slowly grows up to 5 feet across, and produces numerous bright orange flowers that open to reveal yellow inside (see Resources).

Prickly Pear Cactus Flowers

• The prickly pear cactus has muted pale green stems that are thick and prickly. They produce flowers in a myriad of colors. The fruit of a prickly pear cactus is used as a sweetener, ice cream flavoring, red dye, flour and even hair conditioner (see Resources).

Fact

• There are as many as 2,000 different types of cactus plants, making it the largest family of succulent plants. Some are rare, some are easy to find and some bloom. They serve an important role in their ecosystem by providing food and shelter to many reptiles, animals and birds.