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Cacti

© Scott McMahon, Desert Botanical Garden

Cactus, Succulent: What’s the Difference?

Characteristics of Succulents

• The ability to store water and food for extended periods of time.

• Greatly reduced or modified leaves or none at all.

• Some have flexible ribs to allow for expansionSome have flexible ribs to allow for expansion and contraction.

• Fewer stomata plus nighttime respiration (CAM).• Spines and/or poisonous sap or cryptic behavior

to avoid predation.• Can be from many different families.• Can be found in many of the world’s deserts.

Convergent Evolution

• Plants develop similar strategies for coping in their environment, even though they are unrelated and may be separated from each other by vast distancesfrom each other by vast distances.

• Examples: Agaves vs. Aloes and Cacti vs. Euphorbias.

Stem SucculentsLeaf Succulents

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Characteristics Unique to Cacti

• All Cacti Are Closely Related, Belonging to One Family

• Areoles

• Ability to Produce Spines in Clusters

• Native Only to the Americas

Design Features• Flexible Ribs or Tubercles to Allow for

Expansion and Contraction

• Photosynthetic Stems with Few Stomata

• C.A.M. Respiration

• Spines and/or Chemical Compounds for Protection from Predators

• Wool and Spines Cover Tender New Tissue

• Growth Forms Range From Small Globular Plants to Massive Trees

Opuntia scheeriAreoles Neoraimondia herzogiana

Spines in Clusters

Echinopsis X

Stems with Flexible RibsTubercles

Mammillariawinterae

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Mammillaria pettersonii

Dense Spines ProtectingYoung Tissue

Cryptic behavior

Mammillaria sp.

Dense wool and spines Pilosocereus glaucescens

Denmoza rhodacantha

Dense Spination:Protection From Sunlight

Lophophora williamsii

Chemical Defense

Obregonia denegrii

Highly SculptedTubercles

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Astrophytummyriostigma v.

columnare

Spines Embedded inthe Epidermis; Dense Tufts of White Trichomes

Ferocactus emoryiCylindropuntia leptocaulis

Diverse Shapes

Pereskia sacharosa

Non-Succulent,True, Flat Leaves

Pereskioideae

Subfamily

Columnar Cacti• Tall Single or Branching Stems• Woody Skeleton• Flowering When Much Older• Found in North and South America

L I t i th L d• Large Impact in the Landscape

Woody core, flexible stems for water storage;Water transport from the roots is inside the wood;Transport through the cortex is through cortical bundles.

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Neoraimondia herzogiana

Central Bolivia

Neoraimondia herzogiana

Myrtillocactus geometrizans

Central Mexico

Myrtillocactus geometrizans

Stetsonia coryne

NW Argentina, Bolivia,Paraguay

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Stetsonia coryne

N.W. Argentina,Bolivia, Paraguay

Carnegiea gigantea

SaguaroAriz., Sonora

Pachycereus pringlei

Cardon

Sonora, Baja

Pachycereus pringlei

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Pachycereus weberi

S. Mexico S. AZ, Sonora, Baja

Pachycereus schottii “senita”

Stenocereus thurberi

S. AZ, Sonora, Baja, Sinaloa

Stenocereus thurberi

Stenocereus griseus

Coastal Venezuela

Pachycereus pecten-arboriginum

Baja to Oaxaca

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Pachycereus marginatusCentral Mexico

Espostoopsis dybowskii

Side Cephalium

N. Bahia, Brazil

Espostoa sp.Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia

Oreocereus celsianus

Bolivia, Peru, Argentina

Subfamily Opuntioideae

• Includes Prickly Pears, Chollas, and Relatives in North and South America

• Jointed Stems

B b d S i• Barbed Spines

• Glochids Except on Chollas (Occasionally)

Glochids

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Emerging padswith true leaves, and flower buds

Preparation of Nopales

Opuntia aciculataS. Texas, N.E. Mexico

Opuntia erinacea

W. U.S.

Opuntia macrocentra

Opuntia fuliginosa

W. Central Mexico

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Opuntia ficus-indica Nopalea hondurensis

Opuntia santa rita Opuntia engelmannii

Opuntia stenopetala

Central Mexico

Opuntia x vaseyi

S. California

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Tephrocactus articulatus v. papyracanthus

Argentina

Cylindropuntia fulgida

Sonoran Desert

Cylindropuntia bigelovii

Cylindropuntia arbuscula

Sonoran Desert

Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa Cylindropuntia

acanthocarpa

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Globular Cacti

• Single to Multiple Small Rounded Stems

• Colorful Flowers

• Adaptable to Small Spaces

• Popular as Pot Plants

Melocactus

Melocactus sp.

Terminal cephalium

Coryphantha

Thelocactus

Coryphantha elephantidens Coryphantha macromeris

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Thelocactus setispinus Stenocactus pentacanthus

Hedgehogs

• Genus Echinocereus

• SW US and Mexico

• Short clusters of stems from the base.

• Rich, colorful flowers in Spring.

Echinocereus rigidissimus

E. Sonora

Echinocereus pentalophusN. to Central Mexico

Echinocereus barthelowanus Baja Calif.

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Echinocereus fendleri v. boyce thompsonii

Echinocereus nicholii

Sonoran Desert

Echinocereus engelmannii

SW U.S., NW Mexico

Echinocereus sp.

Echinocereus reichenbachii v. fitchii

S. Texas, NE Mexico

Echinocereus stoloniferusv. tayopensis

E. Sonora, W. Chihuahua

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Echinocereus triglochidiatus

SW U.S., N. Mexico

Echinocereus triglochidiatus

Barrel Cacti

• Ferocactus, Echinocactus

• Large, Robust Single to Multiple Stems

• Bold, Colorful Spines

• Usually Large Flowers

• Dramatic Additions to a Landscape

Ferocactus cylindraceus

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Ferocactus wislizeni

Ferocactus herrerae

Ferocactus gracilis ssp. coloratus

Baja Calif.

Ferocactus peninsulae v. viscainensis

S. Baja Calif.

Ferocactus pilosus‘stainesii’

N. CentralMexico

Ferocactus hamatacanthus

Chihuahuan Desert

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Ferocactus histrix

Central Mexico

Ferocactus emoryi

Sonoran Desert,Baja Calif.

Ferocactus glaucescens

Hidalgo

Ferocactus emoryi v. rectispinus

Central Baja Calif.

Echinocactus polycephalus

W. U.S., Sonora

Echinocactus horizonthalonius

Sonoran and ChihuahuanDeserts

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Echinocactus texensis

Tex., New Mex., N.E. Mexico

Echinocactus grusonii

Queretaro

Echinocactus platyacanthus

Central and E. Mexico

Denmoza rhodacantha

N.W. Argentina

Mammillaria

• Large, Popular Genus

• Compact Single to Multiple Stems

• Flowers in a Ring Below the Apex

• Pronounced, Elongated Tubercles

Mammillaria standleyi

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Mammillaria albicans Mammillaria bocensis

Mammillaria geminispina Mammillaria tetrancistra

Mammillaria baumii

Mammillaria guelzowiana

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Mammillaria gigantea Mammillaria

longimamma

Mammillaria grahamii

Mammillaria neopalmeri

Mammillaria sp. Mammillaria fraileana

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Mammillaria wildii

Cochemiea maritima

Cochemiea setispinaEscobaria chihuahuensis ssp. henricksonii

Chihuahua

Coryphantha recurvataSonora

Matucana tuberculata

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Climbing or Sprawling Cacti

• Need Trees, Rocks, or Other Structures for Support

• Long, Thin Stems

M H L F t Fl• Many Have Large, Fragrant Flowers

Harrisia sp. Peniocereus greggii

Ariz. Queen of the Night

Peniocereus marianusHarrisia justbertii

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Stenocereus eruca Echinopsis and Hybrids

• Mostly Clumping, Some Tree Like

• Large, Tubular, Nocturnal Flowers

• Hybrids Come in Wide Range of Colors

Echinopsis vatteri

Echinopsis huascha

Echinopsis hybridsEchinopsis spp.

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Echinopsis X Echinopsis x.

Echinopsis x. Echinopsis candicans

Landscaping

Chollas and prickly pears

Unfriendly

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Well Grown Plants, ButArea is Maxed Out

Pachycereus schottiifma. monstrosus

Plan ahead for eventual size

Restoration Landscape Opuntia santa rita Median Planting

Median PlantingLow Maintenance Grouping of Different

Species of Prickly Pears

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Opuntia ficus indicaCylindropuntia acanthocarpa

Tephrocactus articulatus Ferocactus and Baileya

Echinocereus triglochidiatusand Chrysactinia

Echinopsis withChocolate Flower

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Mammillaria rock garden Echinocereus pentalophus This Species Needs Shelter

Use shrubs to provide natural shade.

Mass Planting

Mammillaria compressa

Some Mammillarias form large clumpsover time.

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Thelocactus setispinus,Ferocactus pilosus

Culture of Cacti

• Most cacti need bright light, but some like shade and others full sun.

• All cacti must have water during the summer growing season. C ti d ll d i d il tti i• Cacti need well drained soil or potting mix.

• Plants in pots should have some fertilizer blend that is low in nitrogen.

• Some need frost protection, and some just don’t do well here in Phoenix!

• Know your plant’s specific requirements.

Cold Stress

Stenocereus montanus

Frost damage Escontria chiotilla

Nopalea hondurensis

Etiolation

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Etiolation Sunburn

sunburn Dehydrated

Be Nice to Your Cacti

Transplanting Cacti

• Gloves, tongs, sections of hoses, carpet useful to protect the plant and yourself.

• Avoid damaging roots. Repot or install plants dry and wait several days to water.

• Large roots that are damaged should be cut back and g gallowed to dry before planting.

• Center tall or heavy plants as much as possible when planting and tamp in the soil. Props may be necessary for the first year. Boulders very useful.

• Orientation must be maintained on plants grown outdoors to avoid sunburn.

• Maintain original soil level to prevent rot.

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Soil

• Remove previous soil if going to new formula.

• Gently break apart soil or wash off roots.

A i d t h d d i• Any mix used must have good drainage.

• Top dressing in pots helps insulate the soil and reduce erosion during watering.

Eriosyce sp.

tuberous roots

Fibrous roots

Tephrocactus articulatus

New roots emerging from the areoles

Tephrocactus articulatus

New soil line.Ok with Opuntias

Opuntia sp.Pests

• Scale insects and mealybugs: Suck juices, interfere with chlorophyll. Treat with 70% alcohol, insecticidal soap, or blast off with water. Small infestations can be picked or brushed off.

• Spider mites: Dense webs over the surface: Treat as above.

• Rodents: Eat some cacti and can cover up parts of plants from burrowing.

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Cochineal scale Frailea castanea

Mealy bugs

Rodenta persista Burrowing rodents

Ferocactus cylindraceus: Jackrabbit damage Ferocactus robustus

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This guy’s okPeaceful coexistence