You should water them well but allow all the excess water to drain out. It features long spines and yellow flowers. How to make sure you dont overwater your plant? Schultz Cactus Liquid Plant Food 2-7-7 is highly recommended by Sacred Buttons for use with all types of sacred cactus including peyote, San Pedro, and Peruvian Torch. This species is pollinated by both hummingbirds and bees. This large cactus of the Florida Keys grows to about 9 feet. Planting the tall columnar Old Man cactus creates an interesting feature in any garden. [citation needed], As of January2021[update], Plants of the World Online accepted eight species:[3]. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); GardenBeast is an online publication which launched in 2019 with the aim of providing the latest news, in-depth how-to guides and reviews of popular products to help you make the most from your back yards and gardens. The top of the cactus produces brightly colored yellow flowers that have a red center. This small globe of a cactus, endemic to Texas, is endangered. Its blooms are white, green and brownish in color. The Dog Cholla, known from the Chihuahuan desert of Texas, forms mats of grayish-green clumps. This small cactus of Mexico and the plains of the Rio Grande in Texas is known to thrive in thornscrub habitat. This round cactus with long spines is a beautiful houseplant that thrives in full sun. The majority of indoor cactus plants need to be in a small pot on a sunny window sill and get watered occasionally. You can identify this desert cactus as it has the classic cactus appearance. The clumps of globular stems are covered with a woolly, white downy substance giving the cactus a soft appearance. This crazy little pint-size cactus is known from the high elevation regions of western Texas and southeastern Arizona. Only about 6,000 plants remain. Gymnocalycium baldianum is one of the varieties of chin cactus plants. The cactus stems may have three to five ridges, each containing tufts of six to eight sharp spikes up 1.6 (4 cm) long. Ready to find out how to grow and care for Button Cacti? Types of String of Buttons Here are the three popular varieties of Crassula perforata: Crassula perforata ssp. It flourishes especially in the blue grama grasses of this region. It features violent-magenta flowers. Button Cactus plants can be great additions to rock gardens but can also fit in any arrangement you can possibly think of. This species of the border between Utah and arizona, has a unique cylindrical-egg shape, and is known to prefer soils rich in gypsum. So, we recommend you to find the sunniest spot in your home or garden and keep your tiny cacti there. This dwarf cactus, known only from Texas, grows to 2 inches tall and features magenta-purple flowers. Exploring the LA River by road and kayak, with notes on my 14 years living in the city. Most types of house cacti are small succulent plants that grow in sandy soil and direct sunlight. Lots of different types of cacti also thrive outdoors where the climate is hot and dry. Epithelantha micromeris Seeds, From Amazon. Besides providing your Button Cactus plant with a lot of sunlight, you can also encourage growth with some fertilizer, especially during the growing season. This species, growing primarily in Arizona's Sonoran desert, is a clumping cactus which features brilliant magenta flowers, often blending toward white. After the cutting has developed the callus, you can place it in fresh soil, leave it dry for a week, and then start caring for it as you do for your mature Button Cactus plant. This epiphytic vining cactus of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, produces large white flowers. Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. This genus is often referred to as the pincushion cactuses, and like two other genera, the hedgehog cactuses. Cactus identification is usually based on their shape, blooming habits, and spines or hairs. The small cactus spheres form larger clusters. Mining, especially of uranium, is one of the key threats to this vulnerable species. Epithelantha micromeris Button Cactus is a great addition to rock gardens or hanging baskets. For example, the Beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) can grow into a medium-sized shrub-like plant that is about 15 (40 cm) tall and produces pink flowers. In some parts of the world, including Australia, Hudson Pear has become an invasive. A prickly pear of the chapparal regions of southern California and Baja, this species can grow to six feet in height, and features yellowish-orangish flowers. By this time, it may have lost some of its distinctive white wooly coat but will produce yellow, red, or white flowers. This species, widespread in Mexico, occurs only in Texas in the United States. The density of its white spines give it the illusion of being completely grey, making it very difficult to see the green color beneath. It flowers late in the summer and is often found in thorn scrub or limestone outcrops. With its distinctive woolly look and brilliant yellow flowers, it is a truly beautiful and unique cactus. Acanthocereus tetragonus. The Old Man of the Mountain Cactus is a columnar succulent plant covered in abundant white hairs. The fragile yellow flowers on this small cactus from the far western deserts of Texas and the Chihuahan desert in Mexico last only a few hours each year. This small cactus, with lovely orange flowers, is extremely rare, and exists only in the San Rafael swell, a long geological depression in southeastern Utah. Even though cactus grows in dry areas, it requires high humidity to germinate. Having few of these Arizona cacti in your garden can create a stunning feature, especially when planted together in a grid formation. One of the most important things to remember when caring for indoor cactus plants is to water them properly. There are about 70 different species in the Gymnocalycium genus and they all produce brightly-colored flowers. It features magenta flowers and multicolored spines. Many botanists consider this a morph of Escobaria Vivipara, but others argue this is its own species. It is common on the hillsides, cliffs and bluffs of the Pacific Ocean, particularly on the Channel Islands, where it grows alongside the native chapparal and scrub. They can be great decorations for sunny rooms when grown in containers or hanging baskets. It is often found in higher elevation deserts. Are you ready to add some unusual-looking cactuses to your plants collection? This species, of southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico is a high-elevation species, growing in rocky slopes above 2,500 feet in elevation. Notes on my travels to Joshua Tree National Park and the Western Mojave of Southern California. This is the world's only complete guide to every cactus in the desert southwest and the United States. An average dried button about 2cm in diameter . On each of the segments are rows of white dots that are covered with tiny hairs. The Star cactus has the shape of a puffed-up disc and its body is divided into sections. Epithelantha (button cactus) is a genus of cactus that is native to north-eastern Mexico, and the south-western United States from western Texas to Arizona.There are eight species recognised in the genus Epithelantha.The name Epithelantha refers to the flower position near the apex of the tubercles.. These plants can be propagated from seeds or stem cuttings. This medium-sized cactus is native to the Southern California and Baja California coast. This cactus of Texas, New Mexico and northern Mexico igrows in a wide variety of habitats, including grassland and creosote habitats. While the vast majority of native cacti are found in the desert southwest, I include all 194 species native to the United States. This plant, which can forms hundreds of pads, was a key part of the diet of many pre-Columbian southwestern tribes. The flowers of the Brazilian Prickly Pear cactus (left) develop into edible juicy fruits. You can plant these cute cacti in beautiful containers or hanging baskets and you can also use them in succulent and cacti mixes. Mammillaria plumosa (feather cactus) and Mammillaria hahniana (old lady cactus) are native to Mexico and feature spherical shapes. At a minimum, like most cactus plants, Button Cacti need to be fertilized once a year. It features white-ish or cream-colored flowers and grows upwards of twenty-six feet. There are thousands of different types of cacti, with all of them being native to the Americas. The Walkingstick cactus grows up to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. One of the most recognizeable cacti of the Sonoran desert in Mexico, this large species is known only in and near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona. This cactus, which grows in clusters of tightly packed individuals, has a very limited distribution along the Arizona-Mexico border. Cactus identification: The Rats Tail Cactus is easy to identify due to the 3 to 6 feet (1 2 m) long spiky tubular stems and spectacular floral displays of bright pink flowers. This shrub-like cholla of the oak-juniper-mesquite woodlands of eastern New Mexico and west Texas. The Silver Ball Cactus is a small round cactus with white tufts, yellowish-brown spines, and a wooly crown. When blooming, the spiny pincushion cactus produces funnel-shaped pink flowers. Its appearance is star-shaped and white in color. The flowers produced by Button Cactus plants are edible and feature cylindrical, bright-red fruits that have few black seeds. The erect cactus stems grow 2.3 to 6 (6 15 cm) long and up to 1.6 (4 cm) in diameter. The starfish flower is also called the carrion flower, and the pointed blooms give off a powerful stench. This cactus of the Mexican, Arizonan and New Mexican Sonoran desert is known to grow on limestone. These are among the classic cactus shapes, and they have played a key role in the cuisine of many native North American groups, particularly in Mexico, where Prickly pears of many species are consumed as a vegetable. It grows in areas largely inaccessible to hikers, and thankfully, cactus collectors. To grow Button Cactus from offsets, use a sterile, sharp knife or pair of scissors. This clumping cactus, known from extremely hot regions of the Sonoran desert in both Mexico and Arizona, grows both outward and upward, forming dense, impenetrable thickets. Some species of Eriosyce cacti have multi-colored spines decorating the cactus. The spines grow so thick over the surface that only some green of the plant shows through. The Rats Tail Cactus is a flowering succulent plant with long, drooping cylindrical stems that grow up to 6.5 ft. (2 m) long. All text, photographs, illustrations, sketches and design created by the author. Keep reading! As it grows, it spreads out as a small shrub. Native to Texas, the Star cactus is a small type of round cactus that some say resembles a sea urchin. This golf-ball sized cactus is known only from Northern Mexico and the Big Bend region of Texas. It is native to the state of Florida. Popular indoor varieties of cacti include Bunny Ears, Christmas cactus, Moon cactus, and the Balloon cactus. flowering peyote One of the great things about having different types of cacti as houseplants is that they need little watering. It grows mostly in thorn scrub habitat. This federally endangered cactus grows in sandy shrubland soils in a limited range in Utah, near Capitol Reef National Park and the San Rafael swell. This epiphytic cactus of Central Americ and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, can grow to lengths of thirty feet, descending off branches. Each ridge has characteristic fine yellowish spines and a yellow flower blooms on the cactus top. This small-sized pricklypear, known from the sand-dune coastlines of Florida and Georgia. This species is sometimes used as a vegetable. This clumping cactus, broadly distributed in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, features brilliant scarlet red blooms. Generally, cacti only need regular watering during the growing season when it is very sunny. The Feather cactus looks like a fluffy rounded ball of white cotton wool. No more than a light soil covering is needed for others. This small globe-shaped cactus features long, soft spines that look like gray hair. This rare cactus of the Mojave and Sonoran desert is known only from California, Arizona and Mexico. It is better to grow outdoor rather than indoor. This small, globe-shaped barrel cactus grows as a single unit. Unlike most other cacti that use their ribs as storage devices, Button Cactus plants have raised tubercles from which spines emerge. Home Succulents Other Cactus Varieties. This pricklypear is found in Arizona only in the Hualapai mountains. [citation needed] The species are extremely slow growing, sometimes taking up to thirty years to reach flowering age (at the size of about a golf ball, excluding the root) in the wild. The Queen of the Night (name: Epiphyllum oxypetalum) cactus gets its name from the fact that its beautiful white flowers only bloom at night. So now that you know that cacti are flowering plants that are easy to care for, lets look at many types of cacti for growing indoors and outdoors. There are eight species recognised in the genus Epithelantha. Button Cactus plants have pretty much the same type of needs as most succulents. One of the reasons why this type of cactus is prized is due to its large flowers. Button Cactus plants dont require too much care as they have pretty much the same needs as most succulents. Cactus Identification: The Balloon cactus has recognizable ridges down the side of the rounded green plant. Type: Cactus/Succulent Water: Dry Soil PH: 6.1-7.8 Flower Color: Red, orange, gold Special Characteristics: Container, showy flowers Hardiness Zone (s): 10-11 Height At Maturity: 1-6" Sun: Full Sun, Partial Sun Sub Type: Houseplant Acanthocalycium thionanthum Common Name: Acanthocalycium thionanthum Scientific Name: Acanthocalycium thionanthum The Queen of the Night cactus has identifiable flattened long trailing stems with wavy margins. This cactus, common to the Chihuahuan desert in Mexico and Texas, features a brilliant and large flower featuring reds, purples and whites. Remove an offset from the main plant, and allow it to callous for several days before placing on well-draining soil. This cactus is common in Utah, and the Colorado Plateau region in general, additionally ranging in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. You can expect the Powder Puff to bloom in the summertime with white or red flowers that form a crown on the top. Bunny Ears cactus is a flowering type of cactus native to Mexico that grows indoors just as well as it grows outdoors. These cacti are generally small and unbranched. These are followed by spineless yellow fruit that have a knobby appearance. Taxa manually added by project curators and taxa represented by research-grade observations added to the project are listed on project lists. The small round cactus also has the botanical name Rebutia minuscula. They bear pink flowers and resemble buttons, hence their name. Button Cactus is not cold hardy, so if you live in a zone that gets colder than 20 F (-6.7 C), it's best to plant this succulent in a container that can be brought indoors. The sharp spines on the Strawberry cactus can also add a bit of color to your garden. The Echinocereus genus is composed of ribbed cylindrical cactuses. It has stunning pink and yellow flowers, large relative to the smallish size of this cactus. Cactus is a biological term, referring to related species. Starfish cactus has various species with many hybrids, and although called a cactus, the Starfish cactus is a type of succulent. The stems can grow in clusters and reach a height of between 16 and 52 ft. (5 15 m). This species is limited to the deserts of Southeastern California, mostly in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This type of columnar cactus is a common sight in deserts in Mexico, Arizona, and California. This cold-hardy cactus is known from the plains and grasslands of the Great Plains and southwest. The flowers are large and unique, with a pale green coloration. Like the Teddy-bear Cholla, Jumping Cholla stems detach easily, almost as if they 'jump' onto your when you brush past one. Notes from Panamint Valley, California. Cane Cholla, distributed across the southwest and desert mexico, is abundant, and more cold tolerant than other cactuses. The stunning large globe-shaped Balloon cactus has a large rib-like appearance with rows of contrasting white or yellow spines on the edge. Prickly Pear cacti grow in areas that are prone to drought and produce purple or rose-colored flowers. Its blooms are a lovely orange color. Its flowers are often a striking golden yellow. This cactus, sometimes called Brady's Pincushion Cactus, is one of the rarest species in the United States. This sharp-spined spreading cactus, known only to New Mexico, features brilliant yellow flowers. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Organ Pipe Cactus, which can grow as high as twenty-five feet, is named after its resemblance to pipe organs. Star cactus is a type of a popular cactus plant for indoors. A beautiful cactus, the Hudson Pear features white pines and brilliant pink-magenta flowers. They are, however, a source of great beauty in the American deserts, forming vast gardens. Epithelantha micromeris is a button cactus in the genus Epithelantha, found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northeast Mexico. It is just packed with spines! Some popular varieties include the golden barrel, california barrel, fishhook cactus, blue barrel and colviller's barrel. This cold tolerant and sun-loving species' fruits are sometimes consumed. As mentioned above, caring for these small, cute plants is extremely easy, especially if you already have some succulents or cacti in your garden. Email us at It is an attractive pygmy cactus with pink and yellow flowers. It is present in the Sonoran desert regions of Arizona and northern Mexico. This Chihuahuan desert cactus, grows in grasslands in northern Mexico and Texas. The Lake Mead pricklypear has a limited range. Yet, Button Cacti are not cold-hardy, so you shouldnt make them sit for too long in cold temperatures. Press Esc to cancel. Cacti come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and some house cacti look stunning when they flower. It features white and green flowers. What represents the diversity of the American Southwest better than the cacti? If you want to propagate Button Cactus from the seeds, we recommend doing it indoors. The dense spines on this Texas species give it a white lace appearance, thus its common name. It is known mostly in the state of Sonora and on the baja peninsula, but is also found in Arizona. In general, cacti are low-maintenance plants that can survive harsh conditions. 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