10 Stunning and Wonderful Small Flowering Cacti
Besides the family of tall cacti, some small flowering cacti are also quite impressive and beautiful, while they also bring their unique benefits.
After growing multiple of these compact and low-maintenance cactus plants we found that they are perfect for indoor gardening or small outdoor spaces. In this actionable and helpful article, we will go through 10 of the overall best small cacti of the entire cactus family.
Christmas Cactus
After growing it we found that this low-maintenance tiny cactus blooms around the Christmas season. The colorful flowering cactus plant has segmented stems and bright, tubular flowers in colors like pink, red, or white that add a nice touch to any setting, particularly hanging baskets. The Cactus Also thrives well in Japanese cactus gardens.
Easter Cactus
This type of small cactus is called the Easter Cactus and blooms around Easter with vibrant pink or red flowers. Its flat, segmented stems and prolific blooming make it a popular choice for being an indoor cactus and we also found that it has a similar structure and foliage to the Chrismas Cactus.
Spiny Pincushion Cactus
Originating from Mexico, the Spiny Pincushion Cactus is an enchanting plant, known for its columnar or spherical stems which cluster together. In spring, it blooms with bright pink, funnel-shaped flowers, which we saw add amazing color amidst its red-brown or yellow central spines.
Star Rock Cactus
This charming very tiny cactus flaunts a flat-topped stem, stretching up to 7,5cm (3in) in diameter. During its flowering phase, it unveils stunning blossoms ranging in hues from white to pink or bright magenta, each with a diameter of up to 2.5 cm (1in).
Known as the smallest cactus in the world, Blossfelidas' round stem grows to around 1.3 cm (0.5 in) in diameter. The gray-green stems have a multitude of wooly areoles arranged almost symmetrically, making it a unique addition to any collection with yellow-white flowers.
Blossfeldia Liliputana
Star Cactus
This ridiculous, small, and round cactus is known for its star-shaped flowers and bright yellow, red, and white flower colors that don't have cactus thorns. Star Cactus or Starfish Cactus is a slow-grower but its unique shape and wonderful blooms make it worth the wait.
Spider Cactus
This squat, fleshy cactus is everything else than a tall cactus plant, captivating with its long, distinctive, almost curling spines. In summer, Spider Cacti also known for Gymnocalycium baldianum blooms large pink-red flowers that contrast beautifully against its body, making it a unique addition to any indoor or outdoor cactus collection.
Bunny Ears
Originating from Mexico, this cactus is named for its paddle structure resembling rabbit ears. It has creamy yellow flowers and grows to a height of 60-90 cm (24-35 in), thriving in full sun during summer, parallel to most African cacti, and partial sun in winter.
Fishbone Cactus
Looking just as ridiculous as Star Cacti, the Fishbone Cactus, known for its zig-zag shaped stems, blooms with large, fragrant, night-blooming flowers that are a sight to house cactus plants.
Parodia Magnifica
The Barrel Cactus is a plant with numerous ribs and their thorns can appear in colors like yellow to tan to red. This blooming cactus requires minimal care, grows up to 30cm (10in) has a spherical shape with soft spines, and blooms with bright yellow flowers that contrast beautifully with its green and round body.
Sources
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Bunny Ears: Opuntia microdasys - Wikipedia
Barrel Cactus: Barrel cactus - Wikipedia
Star Cactus (Starfish Cactus): Starfish Flower Cactus - Information On The Uses Of Starfish Cactus In The Home | Gardening Know How
Spiny Pincushion Cactus: Mammillaria spinosissima (Spiny Pincushion Cactus) (gardenia.net)
Easter Cactus: How to Grow and Care for Easter Cactus (thespruce.com)
Christmas Cactus: Schlumbergera (Christmas Cactus, Crab Cactus, Holiday Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (ncsu.edu)
Blossfeldia liliputana: Blossfeldia liliputana – Wikipedia
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Calin is in the garden industry for 5 years now and has a lot of knowledge about gardening and plants. He owns this website and is responsible for most of the content.