Pictures of Arizona Cacti

Teddy Bear Cactus With Saguaro

Mixed with the Saguaro on Arizona hillsides are some of these fuzzy looking teddy bears. If you have the misfortune to get to close you will find the “fuzz” is actually tiny spines that penetrate clothes and skin. The spines are hard to …

Teddy Bear Cactus Close Up

When you are full of water and live in the desert spines are helpful in preventing thirsty birds and animals from nibbling on you. In addition, the spines shade the plant from some of the direct sun. I would guess these might be …

Barrel Cactus Top

In this picture you can see the growing top of this barrel cactus. When mature, it will flower at the top. In the meantime, the water rich tissues are well protected from animals or birds that might consider taking some of their water.

Barrel Cactus Spines Up Close

You can see why you would not want to fall against or kick this plant. Those spines are hard and sharp. They will go right through jeans, sneakers, and maybe good leather shoes. In this picture you can also see how the spines …

Barrel Cactus Ecosystem

In this picture you get a better idea of the environment where this cactus is growing. The presence of Saguaro cactus tells you the temperature here never goes below freezing for any length of time. The soil is very rocky and survival and growth of …

Ocatilla At Sunset

Also called Buggy Whip Cactus, Ocatilla is tied to rainfall, not temperature or season. The plant leafs out and flowers only after rains which are sufficiently heavy to support them. The leaves and flowers dry up and drop off when things dry out again.

In …

Ocatilla in Flower

As mentioned above, Buggy Whip cactus leafs out and flowers when there has been sufficient rain. The pretty pink flowers only last a short time. They dry up and the leaves follow as the soil dries and moisture once again becomes scarce.

Golden Barrel Cactus

Golden Barrels are frequently transplanted indoors and kept as house plants. We had one for a while and it grew very well indoors. This well tended specimen lives in the San Xavier Church cactus garden near Tucson, Arizona, USA