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Cacti and Succulentsin the

Home Garden

© Scott B. McMahon

Cacti and Succulents make great specimen plants.

Aloe ferox

They have interesting shapes.

Alluadia procera

They can have bizarreotherworldly forms.

Tephrocactusarticulatus

Low water use compared toother ornamentals.

Opuntia robusta

Cactus, Succulent, What’s the Difference?

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Characteristics Shared by Cacti and Succulents

• Adapted to survive in areas with limited or infrequent rainfall.

• Stems, leaves, and/or roots converted to store water and food.

• Can have leaves that are greatly modified, reduced, or none at all to reduce water loss.

• Fewer stomata and nighttime C4 respiration (Crassulean Acid Metabolism or CAM). 95% of all plants have C3 metabolism.

• Can have photosynthetic stems that expand and contract using flexible ribs.

• Can use spines, poisonous sap, or cryptic behavior to avoid predation.

Characteristics Common Only to Cacti

• Cacti are all members of a closely related group, the family Cactaceae.

• They are only native to the Americas, except for one genus.

• They have a unique structure called the areole.

• They are the only family of plants that can produce spines in clusters.

CACTACEAEMatucanatuberculata

Cactus-areole present Euphorbia-no areole Grusonia invicta Euphorbia officinarum

Coryphantha delaetiana

Areoles, spines inclusters

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Stems with flexible ribs

Stenocereus martinezii

TuberclesMammillariapilispina

Dense Spines ProtectingYoung Tissue

Mammillaria sp.

Dense Spination:Protection From Sunlight

Denmozarhodacantha

Cryptic behaviorDense wool and spines Pilosocereus sp.

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Wool protecting the apexLophophora williamsii

Chemical Defense

Spines embedded in the epidermis

Dense tufts of white trichomes

Diversity of Forms

Minor Subfamilies of CactaceaeMinor Subfamilies of Cactaceae

• Perekioideae: Primitive cacti with closest ties to ancestors of cacti. Woody, non-succulent shrubs or trees with true flat leaves. CAM (C4) in the stems and C3 metabolism in the leaves. Pereskia

• Maihuenioideae: Caespitose shrubs with C3 metabolism only. Small, persistent, fleshy leaves. Maihuenia

Tropical Mexico,Caribbean, and SouthAmerica

Non-Succulent,True, Flat Leaves

PereskioideaeSubfamily

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Pereskia bahiensis

Maihuenia patagonicaMaihuenioideae

Main Subfamilies of CactaceaeMain Subfamilies of Cactaceae

• Opuntioideae: Segmented stems, barbed spines, glochids, temporary round leaves. Chollas and prickly pears. 15 genera from Canada to southern Patagonia.

• Cactoideae: Divided further into 9 tribes, 107 genera (Anderson, 2001). Globular, columnar, climbing, shrubby, or epiphytic.

Subfamiliy Opuntioideae

• Prickly Pears, Chollas, and their relatives in North and South America

• Jointed Stems• Barbed Spines• Glochids Except on Some Chollas

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Jointed stems or pads Glochids Emerging padswith true leaves, and flower buds

Opuntia aciculataS. Texas, N.E. Mexico

Opuntia erinacea

W. U.S.

Opuntia basilarisSW U.S., Sonora

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Opuntia fuliginosa

W. Central Mexico

Opuntia pilifera

S. Mexico

Opuntia pilifera

Opuntia ficus-indica Preparation of Nopales Opuntia santa rita

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Opuntia engelmannii Opuntia stenopetala

Central Mexico

Tephrocactus articulatus v. papyracanthus

Argentina

Cylindropuntia bigelovii Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa Cylindropuntia

acanthocarpa

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Cactoideae: Columnar Cacti

• Tall Single or Branching Stems• Woody Skeleton• Flowering When Much Older• Many Genera, Found in North and South

America• 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.

Neoraimondia herzogiana

Central Bolivia

Neoraimondia herzogiana

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Myrtillocactus geometrizansCentral Mexico

Myrtillocactus geometrizansStetsonia coryne

NW Argentina, Bolivia,Paraguay

Stetsonia coryneN.W. Argentina,Bolivia, Paraguay

Carnegiea gigantea

SaguaroAriz., Sonora

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Pachycereus pringlei

Cardon

Sonora, Baja

Pachycereus pringlei

Pachycereus weberi

S. Mexico

Pachycereus marginatusCentral Mexico

Pachycereus schottii “senita”

S. AZ, Sonora, Baja

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Stenocereus thurberi

Organ PipeS. AZ, Sonora, Baja, Sinaloa

Stenocereus thurberi

Espostoa melanostele

Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia

Side Cephalium

Oreocereus celsianus

Bolivia, Peru, Argentina

Globular Cacti

• Single to Multiple Small Rounded Stems• Flowering at a Young Age• Adaptable to Small Spaces• Popular as Pot Plants

Parodia magnifica

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Coryphantha elephantidens Coryphantha sp. Coryphantha macromeris

Thelocactus setispinus Thelocactus rinconensisHedgehogs

• Echinocereus• SW US and Mexico• Short clusters of stems from the base.• Rich, colorful flowers in Spring.

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Echinocereus rigidissimus

E. Sonora

Echinocereus pentalophusN. to Central Mexico

Echinocereus fendleri v. boyce thompsonii

Echinocereus nicholiiSonoran Desert

Echinocereus stoloniferusv. tayopensis

E. Sonora, W. Chihuahua

Echinocereus triglochidiatus

Claret Cup

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Barrel Cacti

• Ferocactus, Echinocactus• Large, Robust Single to Multiple Stems• Bold, Colorful Spines• Usually Large Flowers• Dramatic Additions to a Landscape

Ferocactus cylindraceusSonoran Desert

Ferocactus wislizeni

SW U.S.N. Mexico

Ferocactus pilosus

N. central Mexico

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Ferocactus pilosus‘stainesii’

N. CentralMexico

Ferocactus herrerae

Sonora to Durango, Mexico

Ferocactus hamatacanthus

Chihuahuan Desert

Ferocactus emoryiSonoran Desert,Baja Calif.

Ferocactus emoryi v. rectispinus

Central Baja Calif.

Ferocactus glaucescens

Hidalgo

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Echinocactus horizonthalonius

Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts

Echinocactus texensis

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

Echinocactus grusonii

Querétaro

Echinocactus platyacanthus

Central Mexico 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 tetrancistra

Mammillaria baumii Mammillaria

guelzowiana Mammillaria longimamma

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Mammillaria grahamii

Mammillaria neopalmeri Mammillaria fraileana

Climbing or Sprawling Cacti

• Need Trees, Rocks, or Other Structures for Support

• Long, Thin Stems• Many Have Large, Fragrant Flowers

Harrisia sp.

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Selenicereus sp.Peniocereus greggiiv. transmontanus

Ariz. Queen of the Night

Peniocereus viperinus

Harrisia justbertii

Stenocereus eruca Echinopsis and Hybrids

• Mostly Clumping, Some Tree Like• Large, Tubular, Nocturnal Flowers• Hybrids Come in Wide Range of Colors

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Echinopsis huascha

Echinopsis X Echinopsis x.

Echinopsis x. Echinopsis x‘Yes’

Echinopsis candicans, huascha

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Cacti in the Landscape Chollas and prickly pears

Unfriendly

Flat, no contour

Shotgun ApproachWell Grown Plants, ButArea is Maxed Out

Pachycereus schottiifma. monstrosus

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Cereus hildmannianus

Crowded

Restoration Landscape Opuntia santa rita Median Planting

Median PlantingLow Maintenance Opuntia aciculata, santa rita

Opuntia ficus indica

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Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa

Ferocactus and Baileya

Echinocereus triglochidiatusand Chrysactinia

Echinopsis x withChocolate Flower

Mammillaria rock garden Echinocereus pentalophus This Species Needs Shelter

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Mass Planting Combine Different Forms

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.

• 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.

Etiolation

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sunburn DehydratedTransplanting 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 allowed 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.

Soil

• Remove previous soil if going to new formula.

• Gently break apart soil or wash off roots.• 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

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New soil line.Ok for 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: They will eat some cacti and can cover up parts of plants by burrowing.

Cochineal scale

Frailea castanea

Mealy bugs

Rodenta persista Burrowing rodents

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Ferocactus cylindraceus: Jackrabbit damage

This guy’s ok

Be Nice to Your Cacti