Cacti for Arizona Landscapes

Sculptural cacti for Arizona — saguaro, barrel, prickly pear, organ pipe, and more, with real care and placement facts.

20 plants · every one a full care + fact page

cactus

Native

Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea

The towering icon of the Sonoran Desert, providing critical habitat for birds and nocturnal pollinators alike.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Hildmann's Cereus

Cereus hildmannianus

A striking columnar cactus whose large night-blooming flowers attract hawk moths under moonlight.

Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Golden Barrel

Echinocactus grusonii

A beloved golden-spined globe cactus that looks stunning planted in clusters among desert boulders.

Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Native

Buckhorn Cholla

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa

A native cholla that provides critical nesting habitat for desert birds and dazzling red-yellow spring blooms.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Native

Engelmann's Hedgehog

Echinocereus engelmannii

A compact native hedgehog cactus that erupts with brilliant magenta blooms beloved by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Argentine Hedgehog

Echinopsis huascha

A clumping Argentine cactus whose night-blooming white flowers create a magical display for nocturnal pollinators.

Low Waterpartial shade

cactus

Argentine Giant

Echinopsis candicans

A towering columnar cactus producing spectacular 6-to-8-inch fragrant white flowers that perfume the night air.

Low Waterpartial shade

cactus

Cardon Grande

Echinopsis terscheckii

A compact Argentine cactus that draws hummingbirds with its spectacular orange-red spring and summer flowers.

Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Native

Engelmann's Prickly Pear

Opuntia engelmannii

A widespread native prickly pear whose vivid magenta-pink spring flowers give way to edible purple fruit.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Native

Beavertail Prickly Pear

Opuntia basilaris

A low-growing native prickly pear with distinctive blue-gray pads and cheerful yellow spring blooms that feed desert birds.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Native

Compass Barrel

Ferocactus cylindraceus

A rugged native barrel cactus that famously tilts toward the south, crowned with yellow-orange summer blooms.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Blue Myrtle Cactus

Myrtillocactus geometrizans

A treelike blue-green cactus bearing fragrant blooms and edible purple fruits reminiscent of blueberries.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Giant Prickly Pear

Opuntia robusta

An imposing prickly pear with enormous silver-blue pads that creates an unforgettable desert focal point.

Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Mexican Fencepost

Pachycereus marginatus

A columnar cactus traditionally used as a living fence, turning a dramatic purple when cold weather arrives.

Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Native

Purple Prickly Pear

Opuntia santa-rita

A showstopper prickly pear with vivid purple pads that intensify in winter cold, paired with bright pink spring blooms.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Indian Fig

Opuntia ficus-indica

A mostly spineless prickly pear prized for its delicious edible fruit and sculptural treelike presence.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

cactus

Spruce Cones

Tephrocactus articulatus

A spineless oddity with pine-cone-shaped segments that looks like a living sculpture in containers and rock gardens.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

cactus

Native

Organ Pipe

Stenocereus thurberi

A majestic multi-stemmed native cactus whose night-blooming flowers are pollinated by lesser long-nosed bats.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Native

Senita

Pachycereus schottii

A whiskered columnar cactus with an exclusive pollination partnership with the tiny senita moth.

Very Low Waterfull sun

cactus

Totem Pole

Pachycereus schottii f. monstrosus

A smooth, spineless mutation of the senita prized for its surreal, totem-like sculptural columns.

Low Waterpartial shadePool Safe