The Best Places To Spot Wild Cactus Plants

Succulents are a type of plant capable of accumulating water; that’s the reason why they are prominent in arid regions[1]. There are several types of succulent plants; ocotillo, agave and aloe vera are only a few examples[2]. But, we tend to misguidedly generalise them all as being cactuses (or cacti). That’s because they’re the most popular ones.

Cactuses differentiate from other succulents because of specific characteristics identified in their flowers. Pollination is done mostly by bees, although birds, bats and moths can also play a role in the process[3]. It’s interesting to note that, because bats and moths are nocturnal, many cacti species bloom at night time[4].

People from all over the world want to see them in their natural habitat. That’s probably because cactuses make certain areas distinctive, stereotypical even. But do you know the best places to spot them? Let’s find out the best places to find cactuses in the wild, where they belong.

Sonoran Desert
This desert encompasses the borderline area between Mexico and two American states, California and Arizona. It was probably named after Sonora, the region in northwest Mexico. This is the only place where you’ll see the iconic saguaro cactus. With heights ranging from 40 to 60 feet, saguaros are stunning to observe; the world’s tallest on record was 78 feet! Another remarkable aspect is that, dependant on environmental factors; they can last up to 200 years. When they reach 50 to 100 years of age arms tend to emerge in upwards directions[5]. A saguaro that has grown to its full capacity can store up to 760 litres of water[6].

Chihuahuan Desert
During winter months, butterflies migrating from North America to Mexico pollinate thousands of plants and among those are cactuses that grow in the Chihuahuan Desert. There are approximately 345 species of cactuses in this desert, and they play a significant role in the lives of other plants and animals in the region[7].

Death Valley National Park
This park is situated inside the Mojave Desert; it occupies areas in the American states of Nevada and California. Due to highly inhospitable conditions, there are very few plant species in the Death Valley. Those tough enough to survive include: the Silver Cholla, the Cottontop Barrel, and the Beavertail, with its attention-grabbing magenta flowers. You’ll be also impressed to hear there’s an area in the park that is 282 feet below sea level, the Badwater Basin[8].

[1]Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Definition of a Succulent. http://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/succulents_definition.php
[2] Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Cactaceae (Cactus family). http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_cactus_.php
[3] Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Cactaceae (Cactus family). http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_cactus_.php
[4] WWF for a living planet. Cacti. http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/cacti
[5] Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Cactaceae (Cactus family). http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_cactus_.php
[6] WWF for a living planet. Cacti. http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/cacti
[7] WWF for a living planet. Chihuahuan Desert, US and Mexico. http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/chihuahuan_desert
[8] National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (Page last updated on 05/28/2010). Death Valley National Park, Cacti/ Desert Succulents. http://home.nps.gov/deva/naturescience/cacti.htm

By: Haylee Hulme

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Haylee Hulme writes on a number of subjects including the natural world, biology, and human health.