Barrel Cactusīarrel cactus is one of the most resistant desert cacti and is native to the South and North American deserts. The Cardon cactus can be grown indoors but needs enough sun and heat as it is adapted for the deserts. This cactus produces large, nocturnal, white flowers that occur along the plant’s ribs rather than only at the stems’ apices. This is all thanks to the bacteria that helps fix nitrogen from the air, thus breaking down the rock for nutrients.Ĭardon resembles Saguaro in shape and growth, but it is more heavily branched with its branches appearing just at the base of the step. This allows it to grow even on bare rock with no soil support whatsoever. The cactus has a special relationship with fungal and bacterial colonies on its roots. It grows up to 70 ft tall and can weigh up to twenty-five tons.įruits from Cardon cactus were a vital food element for Sanora’s Seri people. It is native to northwest Mexico and found in states like Sonora and Baja California Sur.

CardonĬardon, also known as the elephant cactus, is one of the biggest cacti found in the desert. Saguaro cactus can be grown indoors as long as they are placed in a brightly lit room with a possibility of being moved outside regularly.

The flowers bloom well after sunset and would close in the afternoons. This gentle Mexican giant produces white waxy flowers that appear from April through June. Saguaro can grow up to 40 feet in height with spines that lengthen by 1mm per day. The spines are notably sharp and may grow up to 1mm per day. Its long tap roots run up to 3 feet deep. The cactus has an extended root network that may go up to 100 feet. Saguaro is grown mainly from seed and rarely does so by cuttings, but when they do, its shape takes a totally different appearance. Thanks to its long lifespan, Saguaro may grow its first sidearm at around 80 years of age, while some never do. The cactus is native to Arizona’s Sonora Desert. It can grow up to 40 feet tall with a lifespan of over 150 years. Saguaro cactus is one of the most recognizable cacti, thanks to its tree-like stature and growth. We take a look at their growth cycles, regions found, and their suitability as a homegrown or indoor plant. This article will look into these and more of the desert cactus in terms of their features and adaptations. However, the most common types of cactus that live in the desert include the following:

So, what kind of cactus live in the desert ? There are literary thousands of cactus plants adapted for the desert.

Desert cacti come in various types, ranging from the smallest, three-inch fish-hook cactus to the towering Saguaro cactus that grows up to 40 feet. Notably, there are two primary classifications of cacti desert and forest cactus. While most cactus plants are adapted to grow in dry areas, not all are found in the desert. Cactus is one of the most noticeable plants in the world.

Life of a cactus