Cactus, also known as Cacti, are presently the focus of most plant enthusiasts for several reasons.
Cactus are beautiful plants in various shapes, colors, and sizes. Plus, they are pretty easy to care for as most of them are relatively low-maintenance plants. Cactus plants are also great at providing food for pollinators.
Below is an outline of some of the most beautiful cactuses with the biggest flowers.
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- Beautiful Cactuses With the Biggest Flowers
- 1. Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
- 2. Moonlight Cactus (Selenicereus spinulosus)
- 3. Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum hybrids or phyllocactus)
- 4. Aylostera Cactus (Rebutia narvaecensis)
- 5. Spider Cactus (Gymnocalycium oehnanthemum x horstii)
- 6. Dwarf Chin Cactus
- 7. Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus Triglochidiatus)
- 8. Chamaelobivia (Lincoln Gem)
- 9. Rosy Pincushion Cactus (Mammillaria Zeilmanniana)
- 10. Monk’s Hood Cactus (Astrophytum ornatum)
- 11. Fairy Castle Cactus (Cereus Tetragonus)
- 12. Starfish Cactus (Stapelia grandiflora)
- 13. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
- 14. Prickly Pear Cactus (Genus opuntia)
- 15. Easter Cactus
- 16. Schlosser Cactus (Notocactus Schlosseri)
- 17. Peanut Cactus (Echinopsis Chamaecereus)
- 18. Beaver Tail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris)
- 19. Calico Cactus (Echinocereus Engelmannii)
- 20. PowderPuff Cactus (Mammilliara boscana)
- What Is A Good Example Of The Least Cactus-Like Plant?
- Final Note
Beautiful Cactuses With the Biggest Flowers
1. Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
The Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus is highly prized for its perfect and exotic-looking white flowers.
They have also been nicknamed ‘the Queen of the Night’ because that is exactly when you will catch them bloom in summer, at night!
2. Moonlight Cactus (Selenicereus spinulosus)
Moonlight Cactus are creeping ones with blue-green stems shaped just like a cylinder. Its red flowers make quite a show when they open at night.
Moonlight Cactus bloom from spring all through to summer. They look best when kept on windowsills.
3. Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllum hybrids or phyllocactus)
We particularly love the over 4-inch flowers of this cultivar and the fact that we can get them in beautiful shades of red, white, orange, pink, and yellow.
Orchid Cactus flowers in summer. They are best displayed in hanging baskets.
4. Aylostera Cactus (Rebutia narvaecensis)
Although this plant is small and spherically shaped, it has large beautiful pink flowers that will make you drool.
Aylostera Cactus is a self-seeding plant. They self-seed unhindered to create magnificent clumping groups.
Their flowering time is in the Spring season, and we dare say that they are among the best flowering cactus around.
5. Spider Cactus (Gymnocalycium oehnanthemum x horstii)
USDA Hardiness Zones:10-11
Spider cactus is best described as long and stumpy with spines so slender and somewhat curly.
Flowers produced by this plant are large pink, white, or purple-colored ones that look pretty in your space.
These plants are ideal for growing indoors. They can be grown outside, too, but you will have to see if they stay shielded from the cold by taking them in cold periods.
Spider cacti love well-drained, slightly acidic, and alkaline soil and partial shade sun exposure. Watering once a week is also ideal for them.
They would naturally flower in summer.
6. Dwarf Chin Cactus
USDA Hardiness Zones 8 - 11
As the name rightly suggests, they are small cactus species with a total growth of about 5 inches in diameter. They, however, increase and produce red/purple large flowers (about 1.6 in diameter) that bloom in early summer.
For best results, grow in gritty, well-drained soil and allow to enjoy filtered light or partial shade.
Watering should be done consistently during summer but stay off watering in winter.
7. Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus Triglochidiatus)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 - 10
The Claret Cup Cactus deserves a spot on our list as they stand as one of the most beautiful cactus specie that abounds.
The flowers are native to the Southwest part of the US and Mexico.
They flower during April /May, producing beautiful orange and red flowers. The plant can attain a height of 24 inches with stems as long as 10 inches and in diameter of 4 inches.
Claret Cup Cactus prefer gravel, dry soil, and total sun exposure. Watering should be done consistently in hot months but paused during winter.
8. Chamaelobivia (Lincoln Gem)
Lincoln Gems are fast-growing plants that also flower freely. They produce compact clumps of long plants.
9. Rosy Pincushion Cactus (Mammillaria Zeilmanniana)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 - 11
This plant has an impressive height range of about 5 inches. It gets its name from the resemblance it shares with a pincushion with tiny spikes and a mass of beautiful pink flowers that can turn red or white once in a blue moon.
Rosy Cactus are low-maintenance plants that grow best in gritty, well-drained soil under full sun to partial shade exposure.
They have no specific flowering time. They can come at any time of the year that they choose. Interesting right?
10. Monk’s Hood Cactus (Astrophytum ornatum)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 - 10
A feature that sets this cactus plant apart is its remarkable capability to attain over 6ft in size when grown in its natural habitat; otherwise, they stay just a foot tall.
They are, however, slow-growing plants that take about ten years to attain maturity. They produce yellow flowers in summer that are about 3 inches long.
Monk’s hood cactus grows best in well-drained soil under total sun exposure.
Watering should be done sparingly, as overwatering can lead to root rot.
11. Fairy Castle Cactus (Cereus Tetragonus)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 - 11
The Fairy Castle Cactus is in a world of its own. They are unique in every sense of the word. They are named so because they look every inch like a fairy castle.
This plant has a slow growth pace but can attain over 6ft in height in years. A downside to this plant is that they hardly flower, which is a shame considering the gorgeous flowers they produce.
Grow well-drained soil under full sun to partial shade exposure for best results.
12. Starfish Cactus (Stapelia grandiflora)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 - 11
We present the cactus specie that produces giant flowers. Like the name rightly says, they are shaped wide like a star with red, green, or purple flowers.
Another plus is that they are low-maintenance flowers, but the downside to this plant is the offensive odor the significant flowers release after some days, which is why it is advised to keep them outside as they bloom.
Grow this plant in well-drained soil under total sun exposure.
13. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 - 12
These plants were named Christmas Cactus due to their bloom time, usually in fall and early winter.
They produce lovely pink flowers about 6-12 inches long and 12-24 inches wide.
They fit better as indoor plants and look stunningly beautiful in any home.
They thrive better when grown in moist, well-drained soil, under partial shade, or indirect sunlight in a humid environment.
They flower in fall and early winter.
14. Prickly Pear Cactus (Genus opuntia)
(USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 - 11)
Prickly Pear Cactus are flat-shaped plants with a 6-12 inches size range.
The slow-growing plants do not appreciate being watered so frequently, and they can stay for over four years before they start producing flowers.
They spot orange and yellow flowers when they eventually bloom, which usually happens during June/July.
Some varieties of this plant also bring forth edible fruits. Get them to grow well in well-drained, alkaline soil and allow them to enjoy full sun.
15. Easter Cactus
(USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11)
The Easter cactus can grow very large when they mature, attaining up to 2ft in height and width.
When they bloom, usually in March and May, they spot very showy flowers that bring sparks wherever they are planted. This is why you will find them popularly used as in-house decorative pieces.
The Easter Cactus prefers cold environments and detests hot ones, unlike other cactus plants.
They grow best in acidic soil with partial sun/full shade exposures. Fertilizer application should be in winter, not summer, and repotting the plant after a few years would be necessary to refresh the soil.
16. Schlosser Cactus (Notocactus Schlosseri)
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10
Schlosser Cactus is yet another slow-growing plant, but on the brightest side, they are super easy to maintain and can grow in both hot and cold climates plus, they make great indoor or outdoor plants.
They originate from Uruguay but are now being raised commonly in the US.
Schlosser Cactus bears bright yellow flowers that look just like sunflowers.
For best results, grow in well-drained soil under full or partial sun. Cut down on watering during winter but resume once it’s summer season.
The plant will usually flower in May.
17. Peanut Cactus (Echinopsis Chamaecereus)
(USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11)
This plant gets about 6 inches tall when it matures. At first glance, you might think they are prickly, but you soon realize how soft they are when you touch them.
This low-maintenance plant will go on to bloom in spring or summer, showing off red-orangey flowers.
Have them grown in well-drained, acidic soil under total sun exposure.
Peanut Cactus love cool temperatures during summertime but can not thrive through frost. The plants are scarce and cannot be readily found.
18. Beaver Tail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris)
(USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-10)
This is a low-spreading cactus plant with flat but wide pads, just like the Prickly Pear Cactus.
These succulents produce red, pink, or purple flowers when they bloom in spring.
They need well-drained, alkaline, and acidic soil plus full sun to grow well.
Beaver Tail Cactus has a mature height of 2ft and a width of about 5ft.
An important tip to note when growing this plant outdoors is to always take them in during the cold months
19. Calico Cactus (Echinocereus Engelmannii)
(USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9)
Calico Cactus stands as one of the most popular cactus specie in Southwest America.
When they bloom, usually in spring, they spot tons of beautiful red and pink flowers.
Calico Cactus, also known as Engelmann hedgehog cactus, has upright stems, but they might need to be staked as they age.
They grow best in sandy, well-drained soil and total sun exposure.
They have a mature size of 2ft and usually flower in spring.
20. PowderPuff Cactus (Mammilliara boscana)
(USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11)
This cactus specie is in the form of little puffs that produce flowers during summer.
Its flowers are primarily pink, but you can spot yellow or white ones once in a blue moon.
Best care practices for this plant include growing in well-drained, sandy soil and feeding with total sun exposure.
Powder Puff will grow about 4.8 inches high and have a diameter of about 3.2 inches.
What Is A Good Example Of The Least Cactus-Like Plant?
It most definitely has to be the Rose Cactus. Its leaves and growth pattern are very different from the average cactus plant.
All the same, the fact that they possess similar floral cups to that of other Cactus and their spines also develop from areoles makes them qualified to be categorized as one.
Final Note
Cactus are flowering species that, more often than not, produce the most beautiful flowers ever. Another advantage to growing them is their attractive blooms that call out to not just insects but cactophiles as well.
We hope you enjoyed our list of some fantastic cactus plants with big flowers.
Ensure you follow up on their care guide, and you will be good to go.
