13 Types of Small and Tiny Cactus Plants
In a place where space is limited, small cacti offer the perfect solution for nature and convenience. Ideal for your cozy apartment or compact garden.
In this actionable, helpful, and no-fluff article, we will go through 13 unique tiny cactus plants that we also saw and inspected. We will also go through their features, ease of care, and ability to thrive in smaller spaces.
Peanut Cactus
The Peanut Cactus is scientifically known as Acanthocereus Tetragonus and we experienced that it can grow up to 15 cm (6 in) and offers a castle-like shape with orange, small cactus flowers. It's a drought-tolerant tiny cactus that loves the sun and adds a lively spark to small spaces.
Lady Finger Cactus
Lady Finger Cactus is a slender, elongated cactus that can grow up to 25 cm (10 in) tall. We found that it enjoys basking in bright, indirect sunlight and is quite forgiving to sporadic watering, making this little low-maintenance cactus a good choice for beginners. It creates cream-colored blooms in the spring and works exceptionally well as an indoor cactus.
Rebutia
The small and flowering cactus type is known for its large blooms in proportion to its tiny size. Rebutias germinate easily and clump freely, making them a good choice for an indoor or outdoor succulent. Their flowering blooms reflect the stunning flowers that most large cacti have, overall it is a colorful yet manageable alternative.
Lemon Ball Cactus
Cochemiea Poselgeri, also known as the Lemon Ball Cactus, reaches up to 15 cm (6 in) tall. This small cactus stands out with its bright yellow spines and lemon-yellow flowers and is great for landscaping. It's a sun-loving plant that requires minimal watering,similar to African cactus plants, adding a bit of color to your tiny cacti collections.
Living Rock Cactus
The unusual Living Rock Cactus, scientifically known as Ariocarpus fissuratus, growing to about 8-15 cm (3-6 in) tall, is a master of camouflage with its stone-like structure and look. We found that this tiny cactus prefers bright, indirect light and very little water, showing its ability to thrive in harsh environments.
Claret Cup Cactus
The inside but also outside cactus, with its bold red blooms, is a showstopper. Each flower appears like a lit torch amidst the green, spiny backdrop, creating a dramatic visual effect. This cactus not only offers a nice display but also doesn't require a lot of care. The South American but also American Cactus can be found naturally in canyons and stone landscapes.
Moon Cactus
Moon Cactus is a petite, colorful gem that brightens up any space. After inspecting it carefully we found that its vibrant top, which can be red, pink, yellow, or orange, sits upon a dark green base, creating a striking contrast. When it blooms, it produces small flowers that are white or pink. This little flowering cactus plant is a good choice for small spaces and windowsills.
Snowball Cactus
The Snowball Cactus is also known as the Thimble Cactus and works well as a South American cactus plant because of its adaptability to that climate. We saw that this tiny cactus features densely packed white spines that give it a whitish appearance, and during the growing season, it produces small, yellow flowers that add a delightful contrast to its frosty-looking body.
Bishop’s Cap
The Bishop’s Cap grows to 20-30 cm (8-12 in) and is known for its geometric shape and amazing white cactus blooms. It's a small cactus that prefers bright light and occasional watering, embodying minimalist elegance.
Read More about how to water a succulent cactus correctly.
Sand Dollar Cactus
This tiny cactus called Sand Dollar Cactus and scientifically known for Astrophytum asterias reaches just 5-10 cm (2-4 in) and has a flat, round shape with a crown of yellow flowers. It's a drought-resistant variety, similar to the Peanut Cactus that enjoys sunlight, ideal for small cactus enthusiasts.
Thimble Cactus
This dainty cactus, standing at 10 cm (4 in), features clustered globes with white spines. It's a sun-loving, tiny cactus that's considered a low- maintenance cactus as it is adorable. Overall the Thimble Cactus is a great choice like the Sand Dollar Cactus and the Lady Finger Cactus and many other cacti on this list
Echeveria
Button Cactus
The rare Button Cactus typically measures 5 cm (2 in) tall. And we found that it prefers infrequent watering and enjoys a sunny spot almost exactly like the Sand Dollar Cactus and the Thimble Cactus. With its tiny size and dense covering of white spines, it’s a delightful addition to any space, boasting minuscule red-pink flowers that attract onlookers.
Sources
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Peanut Cactus: Peanut Cactus 101: Care and Growth Tips - Varieties, How to Propagate and More - A-Z Animals (a-z-animals.com)
Ladyfinger Cactus: Echinocereus Ladyfinger Plants: Learn How To Grow Ladyfinger Cactus Plants | Gardening Know How
Rebutia: Rebutia - Wikipedia
Living-Rock Cactus: Living-rock cactus | Description, Distribution, & Endangered Species | Britannica
Moon Cactus: How to Plant, Grow and Care For Moon Cactus (epicgardening.com)
Snowball Cactus (Thimble Cactus): What Is A Thimble Cactus - Learn How To Grow A Thimble Cactus Plant | Gardening Know How
Sand Dollar Cactus: Astrophytum asterias - Wikipedia
Echeveria: How to Grow Echeveria (Succulent Tips) (thespruce.com)
Button Cactus: Epithelantha - Wikipedia
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Calin is in the garden industry for 5 years now and knows a lot about gardening and plants. He is the owner of this website and responsible for most of the content.